Former Red Brigades member Bertulazzi escapes house arrest in Argentina by climbing down from a fifth floor, nationwide search under way

Leonardo Bertulazzi, a former member of Italy's far-left armed group the Red Brigades who was under house arrest in Argentina, has escaped by climbing down from a fifth-floor apartment using a harness and rope. The 74-year-old escaped on Tuesday and was still on the run on Wednesday, Argentine police officials told the Associated Press news agency, and a nationwide search is under way.

Police said Bertulazzi descended onto the second-floor terrace of a neighbouring house, climbed down to a first-floor terrace, crossed a vacant lot and got onto the street by climbing over a gate.

Authorities did not immediately notice he was gone because he had tampered with his electronic ankle monitor, officials said. They said he placed it inside a device containing a thermal blanket to maintain its temperature, along with grease or animal fat, apparently to keep moisture in. Explosives specialists examined the device, which had been made to resemble an explosive.

Argentina's Security Ministry has offered a reward of 20 million pesos, about $13,000, for information leading to his capture.

Bertulazzi faces extradition to Italy to serve a 27-year prison sentence. He was convicted in absentia by a court in Italy for his role in the kidnapping and death of a former Italian prime minister by the Red Brigades, and his refugee status in Argentina was revoked under President Javier Milei.

The Red Brigades were a far-left armed group responsible for a wave of kidnappings and killings in Italy in the 1970s and 1980s, a period known as the Years of Lead. The group kidnapped and killed former Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978. Argentine authorities have said Bertulazzi, who belonged to the group's Genoa branch, was involved in the logistics of Moro's kidnapping.

According to Argentine court records, Italian courts convicted him in the 1980s of terrorism-related crimes, resulting in a combined 27-year sentence.

Bertulazzi was first arrested in Buenos Aires in November 2002, but an Argentine judge rejected Italy's extradition request in 2003 because Italian law did not guarantee him a new trial after a conviction in absentia. He was granted refugee status in 2004.

Argentina revoked that status in 2024 under Milei and re-arrested him that August. Its Supreme Court approved his extradition last year.

Wanda Ferro, an undersecretary in Italy's Interior Ministry, said Argentine police were responsible for ensuring he was handed over. She told local television she was certain every effort would be made, and that she hoped the extradition could take place very quickly if Bertulazzi is recaptured.