Leonardo Bertulazzi, a fugitive wanted in Italy for decades due to his involvement with the far-left militant group, the Red Brigades, has been arrested by police in Buenos Aires. Bertulazzi, now 72, had evaded capture for nearly 44 years before his apprehension.
Bertulazzi was convicted in absentia in Italy during the 1970s for his role in the kidnapping of Pietro Costa, a naval engineer from a wealthy Genoan shipbuilding family. The crime, orchestrated by the Red Brigades, left a lasting mark on Italy’s history of political violence.
Despite being detained by Buenos Aires police in 2002 after allegedly entering Argentina with a fake passport from Chile, Bertulazzi was released a few months later, and his extradition to Italy was denied. For years, he lived in Argentina under refugee status.
Now, decades later, Bertulazzi faces a 27-year prison sentence in Italy, bringing an end to his long period of evasion. His capture closes a significant chapter in the history of international fugitives and the pursuit of justice for crimes committed by extremist groups.
