Italian Red Brigades Fugitive Arrested in Argentina, Faces Extradition

Leonardo Bertulazzi, a fugitive member of the Red Brigades, has been arrested in Argentina and will be extradited to Italy following the revocation of his refugee status. Bertulazzi, who was previously arrested in Buenos Aires in 2002, was released a few months later. He is facing a 27-year prison sentence for charges including kidnapping, subversion, and belonging to an armed gang. He has been on the run since 1980 and is accused of participating in the kidnapping of naval engineer Piero Costa in Genoa in 1977. The kidnapping was intended to raise funds for the Red Brigades’ terrorist activities. The Argentine authorities apprehended Bertulazzi with the assistance of Italian intelligence and police officers. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her appreciation for the Argentine authorities’ actions, highlighting the strong collaboration between Italian and Argentine law enforcement.