A suspected mafia hitman added bleach to communion wine in a brazen attempt to poison a parish priest known for speaking out against organised crime.

Father Felice Palamara noticed a strange smell from the flasks that contained water and wine while he was leading Mass in the town of Cessaniti in the southern region of Calabria – the stronghold of the powerful ’Ndrangheta mafia network.

He immediately suspended the service and called the Carabinieri police. Tests revealed that the flasks contained bleach.

Police are analysing security camera footage to try to identify who entered the church and contaminated the water and wine with the chemical cleaner.

Swallowing the bleach would have been particularly dangerous for the priest because he suffers from asthma and heart problems.

‘Act of intimidation’

The apparent assassination attempt appears to have been carried out in retaliation for him denouncing the ’Ndrangheta’s presence in the town.

The criminal organisation makes millions of euros a year from cocaine trafficking and other criminal activities.

“I’m sure that this act of intimidation has nothing to do with my parishioners because I have been here for 10 years and I have always had good relations with the people of the parish,” he told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

“We won’t allow anyone to do harm to the parish. Nobody can stop a town that deserves redemption and that wants to grow.”

In August last year, the local town council was dissolved amid suspicions of mafia infiltration – a measure that is often taken in settlements in Italy’s south, where the influence of mafia groups remains strong.

Death threats 

The incident is not the first time Father Palamara has been threatened. A few weeks ago, his car was set ablaze and he has also received threatening letters.

“I feel calm, although I hope that the forces of justice manage to get to the bottom of these criminal acts,” he said.

Other priests in the town and civil society organisations have also been terrorised, including Father Francesco Pontoriero, who received death threats and found a dead cat on the bonnet of his car.

Romina Candela, the president of a local association called Crisalide, or Chrysalis, recently received an anonymous letter warning her against opposing mafia operations.

“I’m not afraid. I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing. I’m free, whereas they are not,” she said, referring to local mafiosi.