Former Red Brigades member evades capture in Argentine apartment escape

Leonardo Bertulazzi, a 74-year-old former member of Italy's far-left Red Brigades, has escaped from house arrest in Argentina. The escape, which occurred on Tuesday, involved the use of a harness and rope to climb down from a fifth-floor apartment. Argentine police officials confirmed to The Associated Press news agency that Bertulazzi remained on the run as of Wednesday, triggering a nationwide search for the fugitive.

The former militant is currently facing extradition to Italy, where he must serve a combined prison sentence of 27 years. He was convicted in absentia by an Italian court for his involvement in the kidnapping and subsequent death of a former Italian prime minister. His legal status in Argentina has become a point of contention, leading to the revocation of his refugee status by right-wing President Javier Milei.

Police details of the escape indicate that Bertulazzi descended onto the second-floor terrace of a neighboring house. From there, he climbed down to a first-floor terrace, crossed a vacant lot, and finally gained access to the street by climbing over a gate. The methodical nature of the escape allowed him to bypass initial surveillance.

Authorities did not immediately realize Bertulazzi was missing because he had tampered with his electronic ankle monitor. Officials stated that he placed the device inside a contraption containing a thermal blanket to maintain its temperature. Additionally, grease or animal fat was used inside the device, presumably to keep moisture in and preserve the electronics. Explosives specialists examined the setup, which had been designed to resemble an explosive device.

In an effort to locate the fugitive, Argentina’s Security Ministry has offered a reward of 20 million pesos, approximately $13,000, for information that leads to his capture. The significant bounty underscores the urgency with which Argentine officials are treating the case.

The Red Brigades were a far-left armed group responsible for a wave of kidnappings and killings in Italy during the 1970s and 1980s, a turbulent period known as the Years of Lead. The group is most infamously known for kidnapping and killing former Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978. Argentine authorities state that Bertulazzi, who belonged to the group's Genoa branch, played a role in the logistics of Moro's kidnapping.

Italian courts convicted Bertulazzi of terrorism-related crimes in the 1980s, resulting in the 27-year sentence mentioned in Argentine court records. His legal journey in South America began when he was first arrested in Buenos Aires in November 2002. However, an Argentine judge rejected Italy's initial extradition request in 2003, citing that Italian law did not guarantee him a new trial after a conviction in absentia. Consequently, he was granted refugee status in 2004.

The situation shifted significantly in 2024 when President Milei revoked Bertulazzi's refugee status. He was re-arrested that August, and Argentina's Supreme Court approved his extradition last year. The recent escape threatens to delay the final stages of this long-standing legal process.

Wanda Ferro, an undersecretary in Italy’s Interior Ministry, emphasized that Argentine police are responsible for ensuring Bertulazzi is handed over. Speaking to local television, she expressed certainty that every effort would be made to recapture him. She added that she hoped the extradition could take place very quickly if Bertulazzi is found.