Italian terrorist escapes from house arrest in Buenos Aires on rope
74-year-old Leonardo Bertulazzi, sentenced in Italy to 27 years in prison, broke out of house arrest on the fifth floor in Argentina by abseiling down a harness and rope. Authorities offering a reward of 20 million pesos for information leading to the fugitive terrorist's capture.
Spectacular escape of Italian terrorist from Buenos Aires
Leonardo Bertulazzi, a 74-year-old Italian terrorist sentenced to 27 years in prison for his involvement in kidnapping and activity in an armed organisation, escaped from house arrest in Buenos Aires. According to Argentine television station TN, he was being held on the fifth floor of a building, where he removed an electronic monitoring bracelet, and then using a harness and rope, abseiled through a window to the ground.
According to local media, police were alerted by a lack of movement detected by the monitoring device. Officers found the abandoned bracelet on the floor and called in bomb disposal experts, as given Bertulazzi's terrorist background they suspected it might contain explosive materials. The threat was ultimately ruled out.
Rp.pl reports that the escape was confirmed by the 74-year-old's lawyer, Rodolfo Yanzon. Italian and Argentine services issued an alert in the search for the fugitive. Argentine authorities set a reward of 20 million pesos — approximately 51,000 Polish zloty — for information leading to his capture.
Bertulazzi was first arrested in Argentina in 2002. Two years later, the State Commission for Refugees granted him refugee status, enabling him to legally remain in the country. This status was revoked in 2024 under the administration of president Javier Milei. In the same year he was arrested again and extradition proceedings to Italy were initiated — to which the Argentine Supreme Court has already consented.
Bertulazzi was a participant in activities in Italy during the era of attacks in the 1970s and 1980s, when terrorist organisations both far-left — such as the Red Brigades — and far-right operated in the country. The Red Brigades were responsible, among other things, for the kidnapping and murder of former prime minister Aldo Moro in 1978. This period passed into history as the "years of lead": over 400 people were killed in attacks over two decades.
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)