Former Red Brigades Member Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires

Leonardo Bertulazzi, a 74-year-old former member of the Italian militant group the Red Brigades, escaped from house arrest in Buenos Aires on Wednesday while awaiting extradition to Italy.

Bertulazzi reportedly used a harness to abseil from a fifth-floor balcony after tampering with his electronic ankle monitor to ensure it continued to transmit body temperature data.

Authorities discovered his absence after the device remained stationary, prompting a search of his residence where they found the monitor discarded.

The Argentine security ministry has offered a $13,000 reward for information leading to the recapture of the fugitive, who was set to serve a 27-year prison sentence in Italy.

The escape marks a significant development in a long-running legal saga involving the militant, who was first arrested in Argentina in 2002 before securing refugee status in 2004.

His legal protection was revoked in 2024 following the election of President Javier Milei, whose government previously stated, "Bertulazzi is responsible for crimes that undermined democratic values and the lives of many victims."

Bertulazzi was a member of the Red Brigades' Genoa section and was convicted for the 1977 kidnapping of naval engineer Pietro Costa, whom the group held for 81 days.

Funds from that ransom were used to finance the 1978 kidnapping and murder of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, a central event during Italy’s period of political violence.

Upon discovering the apartment empty, police initially called in explosives experts out of concern that the monitor might have been rigged, according to the newspaper Clarín.

While local media reported the abseiling method in detail, Argentine authorities have not officially confirmed the specific manner of his departure from the building.

The Argentine supreme court rejected Bertulazzi’s final appeal in July 2025, clearing the way for his transfer to Italian custody before he absconded.