Spectacular escape of a 74-year-old terrorist. He rappelled down from the fifth floor
Leonardo Bertulazzi, sentenced to 27 years in prison, took off his electronic bracelet and left his fifth-floor apartment on a rope
Quick Look
- Leonardo Bertulazzi, a 74-year-old Italian sentenced in Italy to 27 years in prison for kidnapping and membership in an armed organization, escaped from house arrest in Buenos Aires by removing his electronic bracelet and leaving his fifth-floor apartment on a rope.
- Argentine authorities announced a 20 million pesos reward for his capture, and an urgent alert was issued to Italian law enforcement.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Leonardo Bertulazzi was sentenced in Italy to 27 years in prison for participating in a kidnapping and membership in an armed organization. He was detained in Argentina in 2024 and has since been under house arrest in Buenos Aires, awaiting extradition. Earlier, in 2002, he was detained and two years later he received refugee status, which allowed him to legally stay in Argentina for two decades. His refugee status was revoked after the change of government and Javier Milei's assumption of the presidency in 2024.
An escape like from an action movie
Leonardo Bertulazzi, sentenced in Italy to 27 years in prison for involvement in a kidnapping and membership in an armed organization, was detained in Argentina in 2024. Since then, the 74-year-old has been under house arrest in Buenos Aires and awaiting extradition to Italy.
As Argentinian media reported on Wednesday, Bertulazzi managed to remove his electronic monitoring bracelet and then lower himself on a rope through the window of his fifth-floor apartment. According to the Argentine press, Bertulazzi used the harness to spectacularly lower himself to the ground.
Alarm and police manhunt
The police initially did not realize that the Italian had escaped. The officers were concerned about the lack of movement detected by the electronic bracelet. When they arrived, they found the device abandoned on the floor. As reported by the daily "Pagina 12", taking into account the Italian's past, the police suspected that the bracelet could have been armed with explosives. Sappers were called to the scene, but they ruled out a threat.
Bertulazzi's escape was confirmed by his lawyer, Rodolfo Yanzon. Italian law enforcement immediately issued an "urgent alert to trace him immediately," ANSA reported. The Argentine authorities offered a reward of 20 million pesos (approximately PLN 51,000) for help in capturing the escaped terrorist.
From refugee to arrested
It was not the first time that Leonardo Bertulazzi came to the attention of the Argentine services. He was detained in 2002, but two years later he received refugee status. This allowed him to legally stay in the country for the next two decades.
Only in 2024, after the change of power and the assumption of the presidency by Javier Milei - a political ally of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - was his refugee status revoked. The Supreme Court of Argentina has agreed to extradition, but the procedures have not yet been completed.
Red Brigades and the "years of lead"
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Argentine police will conduct a large manhunt to capture Leonardo Bertulazzi
Very likely · Within days
Italian law enforcement authorities will work closely with Argentinian services to track down the fugitive
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Where is Leonardo Bertulazzi currently?
- Do the Argentinian police have any clues about the fugitive's whereabouts?
- When will extradition procedures be completed?
- Did someone help Bertulazzi escape?
