Former Red Brigades Member Escapes House Arrest in Argentina Using Harness

A 74-year-old former member of Italy’s radical Marxist group, the Red Brigades, has successfully escaped from house arrest in Argentina, local security authorities confirmed. The fugitive, identified as Leonardo Bertulazzi, reportedly used a climbing harness to scale a balcony and flee custody in Buenos Aires, evading law enforcement agencies that were monitoring his residence.

Bertulazzi had been living under house arrest in the Argentine capital since 2024, awaiting formal extradition proceedings to Italy. Italian authorities had sought his return to serve a 27-year prison sentence stemming from his involvement with the militant organization during the turbulent political era known as the ‘Years of Lead’. His sudden disappearance has triggered an intensive manhunt and raised significant questions regarding the security measures in place for high-profile extradition cases.

The security ministry in Argentina has mobilized federal and local police units to track down the fugitive, coordinating closely with international Interpol networks to prevent him from crossing international borders. Italian officials have expressed deep concern over the escape, urging their South American counterparts to swiftly recapture Bertulazzi and expedite the long-delayed extradition process.

The brazen escape highlights the lingering shadows of past European terrorism and the logistical challenges international authorities face when managing aging former militants living abroad. As the search enters a critical phase, investigators are probing how Bertulazzi managed to acquire the equipment and execute the escape without immediate detection by the security personnel assigned to watch him.

Sources: The Guardian World