Elderly Italian arrested over deadly school bomb

ROME - Italian police took a 68-year-old man into custody on Wednesday in connection with last month's bombing near a school that killed a 16-year-old girl and wounded 10 others, local media reported Thursday.

Investigators initially suggested a mafia group was responsible for the May 19 bomb that was detonated in Brindisi, a port city in southern Italy.

---

After several hours of questioning in the southern city of Lecce, the man allegedly confessed to building and planting the bomb, Italian media reported.

The man, whose motive was described as a "personal" vendetta and not terrorism, is married and has two children, according to local reports.

Television news channel Sky Italia named the suspect as Giovanni Vantaggiato, an agricultural fuel depot owner from nearby Cupertino, adding that police and prosecutors were still working to verify details in his apparent admission.

The investigation into the bombing made "an important and definitive breakthrough" Wednesday, the head of the police force, Antonio Manganelli, told Reuters after news of a possible confession was reported.

Vataggiato’s apparent motive was described in Italian newspaper La Repubblica [linked site in Italian] as anger over personal debt.

Reuters and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.

More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

• Egypt’s Tahrir protesters take on Mubarak's man
• Deputy al-Qaida leader killed in Pakistan drone strike, White House confirms
• Fugitive Canadian porn actor wanted for murder found in Berlin
• Vatican scandal: More than just 'the butler did it'
• After Nigeria plane crash, families mourn; government suspends airline
• In shift, US works toward bigger role for India in Afghanistan war

Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

 

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.