Ex-member of radical Marxist group scales balcony, escapes house arrest in Argentina

74-year-old Leonardo Bertulazzi, awaiting extradition to Italy, reportedly used harness to flee custody

A 74-year-old former member of Italy’s radical Marxist group the Red Brigades has escaped from house arrest in Argentina, the country’s security ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

Authorities placed Leonardo Bertulazzi under house arrest in Buenos Aires in 2024, prior to his extradition to Italy to serve a 27-year prison sentence.

He had received the sentence in 1987 for joining a subversive association and belonging to an armed group.

After years on the run, Bertulazzi was first arrested by Argentine authorities in 2002. He was freed a few months later and secured refugee status in 2004, but was arrested again in 2024 after it was revoked.