The short version
- Leonardo Bertulazzi, a former Italian militant awaiting extradition, escaped house arrest in Buenos Aires by disabling his ankle monitor with pork fat and heating elements.
- The fugitive rappelled from his apartment building while law enforcement resources were diverted to secure the Pope’s visit, prompting a manhunt and a financial reward for information.
- Italian officials blame Argentine authorities for the lapse, while Bertulazzi’s legal team claims he fled due to fears of indefinite imprisonment despite severe health issues.
A dramatic escape from house arrest in Buenos Aires has disrupted long-standing diplomatic efforts between Italy and Argentina regarding the extradition of Leonardo Bertulazzi. The seventy-four-year-old former member of Italy’s Red Brigades vanished on Tuesday morning after bypassing electronic surveillance measures and descending from his fifth-floor apartment. The incident has triggered a widespread police search involving sniffer dogs and numerous officers in the San Telmo neighborhood, creating confusion among local residents who initially feared an explosive threat.
According to investigators familiar with the case, Bertulazzi executed his departure around 6:00 a.m., timing his move to coincide with heightened security deployments for the Pope’s visit to Argentina. This diversion allowed him to act without immediate detection. He reportedly disabled his ankle monitor by wrapping it in a tube containing pork fat and placing it near a heating pad, a method designed to mimic body temperature and pressure readings. This deception prevented authorities from detecting his absence until movement data ceased entirely.
Once the monitoring device was neutralized, Bertulazzi rappelled down from his balcony into a vacant lot behind the building. He then scaled a metal gate to reach the street, demonstrating physical capability that contrasts sharply with previous legal arguments regarding his frailty. Sources involved in the investigation described the sequence of events as resembling a cinematic plot, noting that Bertulazzi’s background in logistics for the militant group likely informed his precise planning and execution.
Bertulazzi’s presence in Argentina stems from a complex legal history dating back to the 1970s. He was convicted in absentia in Italy for terrorism charges related to the kidnapping of shipowner Pietro Costa, an act that generated funds allegedly used to support Red Brigades operations, including the captivity of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro. Although arrested in Buenos Aires in 2002, he was released months later because Italian trials had occurred without his presence. He subsequently secured refugee status, which was revoked two years ago, leading to his recent detention under house arrest due to health concerns.
The escape has drawn sharp criticism from Italian officials who view the failure of surveillance as a significant setback. Wanda Ferro, an undersecretary in Italy’s interior ministry, stated that Argentine police were responsible for ensuring Bertulazzi’s custody and handover to Italian authorities. She urged for his swift recapture, emphasizing the importance of upholding judicial agreements between the two nations. In response, Argentina’s security ministry announced a reward of approximately $13,000 for information leading to his arrest.
Bertulazzi’s legal representatives argue that his flight was motivated by fear rather than defiance. His lawyer, Rodolfo Yanzon, noted that Bertulazzi suffered three strokes during his two years in detention and had significant difficulty walking. Yanzon claimed he informed his client on Monday that a judge would not authorize medical testing to assess his fitness for travel, which likely prompted the decision to flee. The attorney suggested that Bertulazzi prioritized freedom over health risks, believing extradition was imminent.
Family members have echoed concerns about the severity of the potential sentence. Claudia Bertulazzi stated in an interview that her father felt he had no alternative after an Argentine court rejected his appeal to maintain refugee status on November 3. She expressed fear that he would spend the remainder of his life in prison if returned to Italy. However, she also indicated that Bertulazzi does not fear a retrial, asserting that under current laws, the only remaining charge would be participation in an armed group, which he has never denied.
The Italian press has reacted with a mix of bemusement and frustration, highlighting the irony of a man cited as too ill to fly managing a physically demanding escape. The incident underscores the challenges of enforcing extradition treaties when health claims conflict with observed physical actions. As the manhunt continues, authorities in both countries face pressure to resolve the situation while balancing diplomatic relations and judicial obligations.
This event marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to bring former Red Brigades members to justice decades after their activities during Italy’s Years of Lead. The use of improvised methods to defeat electronic monitoring raises questions about the reliability of current house arrest protocols. Authorities are now reviewing security procedures to prevent similar breaches, while the public attention remains fixed on whether Bertulazzi will be recaptured or remain at large.
The situation remains fluid as police continue to search the Buenos Aires area. The combination of historical gravity and modern surveillance failure creates a complex narrative that extends beyond a single fugitive. It reflects broader tensions in international law enforcement cooperation and the enduring impact of past political violence on contemporary judicial processes. Observers will watch closely for any updates on Bertulazzi’s whereabouts or changes in extradition policy.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Pork fat, a heating pad and a five-storey jump: how a 74-year-old escaped house arrest in Argentina
