New arrest of a former brigadist claimed by Italy for terrorism

A former member of the Red Brigades installed in France since the 1990s was arrested Monday July 19 at the request of the Italian authorities who claim him on the basis of a conviction for a terrorist kidnapping attempt in 1982, AFP learned on Monday. from a judicial source and close to the case.

To read also: Guillaume Perrault: "The former terrorists of the Red Brigades, the '' Mitterrand doctrine '' and our Italian friends"

Maurizio di Marzio, 61, was the only one to have escaped the execution at the end of April of the arrest warrants issued by Italy against ten former far-left activists.

All are claimed by Rome for having been condemned for their involvement, which many contest, in the attacks committed in their country during the years 1970-80, nicknamed "

".

The execution of these warrants against Italians who have rebuilt their lives in France, sometimes for more than thirty years, constituted a historic turn in relations between the two countries, widely hailed outside the Alps but more discussed in France. .

On April 28, seven of them were arrested at their homes and three others presented themselves to justice the next day.

Maurizio di Marzio, whose validity of the arrest warrant expired on May 10, fled before the crackdown, announced a few days earlier in the Italian press.

According to sources close to the case, he was no longer actively wanted by the French authorities.

But on July 8, the Rome Court of Appeal ruled that the warrant was ultimately not prescribed, these sources told AFP.

Already arrested in 1994 in Paris

The former brigadier was placed in judicial detention on Monday, July 19 and must be presented by 48 hours to the Paris Court of Appeal, which must decide on his possible pre-trial detention or release under judicial supervision, the time of the procedure.

Maurizio di Marzio is claimed by his country for the execution of the remainder (five years and nine months) of a 14-year prison sentence, in particular for his role in the attempted kidnapping in 1982 of a vice-prefect of police of Rome, Nicola Simone, seriously injured in the attack. "

", he had declared a few years ago to the Italian magazine Panorama. “

”added the restaurateur, at the head of an Italian tavern in Paris, saying he was“

”by the authorities of his country. He was arrested in 1994 in Paris but the extradition procedure had not been completed.

Read also: Macron launches the judicial extradition marathon for ten brigadists

The other nine former activists, seven men and two women aged 63 to 77, were released at the end of April.

They appeared in June before the Paris Court of Appeal, responsible for examining the validity of extradition requests.

The court must say on September 29 whether or not it asks for additional information from the Italian authorities on these requests, described as "

" by the defense and crushed by the lawyer general for their shortcomings.