Former Italian Red Brigades member escapes house arrest in Argentina

A 74-year-old former member of Italy’s far-left Red Brigades has escaped from house arrest in Argentina by climbing down from a fifth-floor apartment using a harness and rope, prompting a nationwide search. Leonardo Bertulazzi, who faces extradition to Italy to serve a 27-year prison sentence, escaped on Tuesday and was still on the run on Wednesday, Argentine police officials told The Associated Press news agency.

Police said he 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 Bertulazzi was gone as he had tampered with his electronic ankle monitor, the 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. Argentina’s Security Ministry has offered a reward of 20 million pesos (about $13,000) for information leading to his capture.