A former member of Italy's far-left Red Brigades, Leonardo Bertulazzi, aged 74, staged an audacious escape from house arrest in Argentina by utilizing a rope and harness to descend from a fifth-floor apartment. This incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has triggered a nationwide manhunt, as reported by The Associated Press news agency. Bertulazzi is wanted for extradition to Italy to serve a 27-year prison sentence for his role in the kidnapping and murder of a former Italian prime minister by the Red Brigades, an armed group responsible for a series of violent acts during Italy's "Years of Lead" in the 1970s and 1980s. The Argentine authorities revoked Bertulazzi's refugee status under right-wing President Javier Milei, following his conviction in absentia by an Italian court. Police believe he made his way onto a second-floor terrace of a neighboring house, descended to the first floor, crossed a vacant lot, and exited onto the street by scaling a gate, having tampered with his electronic ankle monitor.
The Argentine Security Ministry has offered a reward of 20 million pesos for information leading to Bertulazzi's capture. According to court records, Italian courts convicted him in the 1980s of terrorism-related crimes, resulting in a combined 27-year sentence. He was initially arrested in Buenos Aires in November 2002 but was not extradited due to Italian law not guaranteeing him a new trial after a conviction in absentia. His refugee status was granted in 2004, revoked in 2024 under Milei, and he was re-arrested that August. The Argentine Supreme Court approved his extradition last year. Wanda Ferro, an undersecretary in Italy's Interior Ministry, expressed confidence in the Argentine police's efforts to ensure Bertulazzi's surrender and hoped for a swift extradition if he is recaptured.
The daring escape of Leonardo Bertulazzi, the 74-year-old ex-member of Italy's Red Brigades, has sparked a global pursuit. Escaping from house arrest in Argentina, Bertulazzi utilized a harness and rope to descend from a fifth-floor apartment on Tuesday, triggering a nationwide search. Bertulazzi is wanted for his role in the kidnapping and murder of a former Italian prime minister by the Red Brigades during Italy's "Years of Lead" in the 1970s and 1980s. His extradition to Italy was approved by Argentina's Supreme Court last year, but he escaped before being handed over.
According to court records, Bertulazzi was first arrested in Buenos Aires in November 2002 but was not extradited due to Italian law not guaranteeing him a new trial after a conviction in absentia. He was granted refugee status in 2004 and his status was revoked in 2024 under President Javier Milei. Bertulazzi's escape has prompted the Argentine Security Ministry to offer a reward of 20 million pesos for information leading to his capture. Wanda Ferro, an undersecretary in Italy's Interior Ministry, expressed confidence in the Argentine police's efforts to ensure Bertulazzi's surrender and hoped for a swift extradition if he is recaptured.
The extradition of Leonardo Bertulazzi, a 74-year-old former member of Italy's Red Brigades, to serve a 27-year prison sentence in Italy for his role in the kidnapping and murder of a former Italian prime minister by the Red Brigades, has taken a significant step forward. After escaping from house arrest in Argentina using a harness and rope, Bertulazzi has been on the run since Tuesday. However, Argentine authorities have vowed to capture him and ensure his extradition, following the approval of his extradition by the Argentine Supreme Court last year.
Bertulazzi was initially arrested in Buenos Aires in November 2002 but was not extradited due to Italian law not guaranteeing him a new trial after a conviction in absentia. He was granted refugee status in 2004, revoked in 2024 under President Javier Milei, and re-arrested that August. The Argentine Security Ministry has offered a reward of 20 million pesos for information leading to his capture. Wanda Ferro, an undersecretary in Italy's Interior Ministry, expressed confidence in the Argentine police's efforts to ensure Bertulazzi's surrender and hoped for a swift extradition if he is recaptured. The Red Brigades were an armed group responsible for a wave of kidnappings and killings in Italy during the "Years of Lead" in the 1970s and 1980s, a period known for its political violence.