Brescia Massacre 1974: Perpetrator Now in Landquart
- LANDQUART, Switzerland – Marco T.,a Swiss citizen residing in Graubünden,faces a 30-year prison sentence in Italy for his role in the 1974 Piazza della Loggia bombing in Brescia,Italy,despite...
- An Italian court last week convicted Marco T., identified as a right-wing extremist, for the May 28, 1974, bombing that killed eight people during a union rally in...
- has never cooperated with Italian investigators, invoking his rights when they attempted to question him in Bern in 2014.
Swiss Resident Convicted in Absentia for 1974 Brescia Bombing
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LANDQUART, Switzerland – Marco T.,a Swiss citizen residing in Graubünden,faces a 30-year prison sentence in Italy for his role in the 1974 Piazza della Loggia bombing in Brescia,Italy,despite living freely in Switzerland.
An Italian court last week convicted Marco T., identified as a right-wing extremist, for the May 28, 1974, bombing that killed eight people during a union rally in Brescia, located in the Lombardy region of Italy. Marco T. was convicted in absentia.
Now a pensioner in Landquart,marco T. has never cooperated with Italian investigators, invoking his rights when they attempted to question him in Bern in 2014.
Early Involvement and Acquittal
In 1974, Marco T. was allegedly active in the neo-fascist association Ordine Nuovo.He, along with 118 others, faced charges related to the attempted re-establishment of the fascist party but was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Months later, the judge who initially charged them was murdered by an extremist.
Flight to Switzerland
Marco T. fled to schaffhausen, Switzerland, in the early 1980s. He married and acquired Swiss citizenship,adopting his wife’s surname. His wife stated years later that the name change was “to find work,” though she now declines further comment. A former acquaintance recalled Marco T. rarely working and relying on social assistance, describing him as “paranoid” and seemingly “hiding.”
In 1989, Swiss police, acting on an Italian warrant, searched his residence, arresting him for arson and confiscating neo-Nazi propaganda. He was extradited to Italy but was acquitted.
Evidence and Identification
the Brescia presentation targeted by the bombing protested against neo-fascist violence that had destabilized the city. Evidence presented in the Italian court against Marco T. was described as substantial.
Gianpaolo Stimamiglio, a former Ordine Nuovo member, testified that he met Marco T. in Italy in the 1980s. Stimamiglio stated that Marco T. “proudly told me that he was on the Piazza della Loggia that day.” Investigators identified Marco T. in photographs taken at the scene.
A recording instantly after the attack: T. (circled in red) was in the crowd.
RSI
Extradition Impossibility
The Federal Office of Justice stated that the statute of limitations has expired for the crime in Switzerland. Furthermore, Swiss law prohibits the extradition of swiss citizens, even in the event of a conviction.
Carlo Sommaruga, a Swiss Council of States member, criticized the situation. “We cannot say that Switzerland protects a terrorist!” Sommaruga said. “In reality,we are dealing with a person that our system has exploited to avoid the Italian judiciary. He lived at the expense of taxpayers without working and was always dependent on social assistance: there is no reason why he should stay Swiss.” Sommaruga has submitted a request to the Federal council to revoke Marco T.’s citizenship.
Marco T.continues to live undisturbed in Landquart. Local authorities have declined to comment.
RSI Falò contributed to this report.
Swiss Resident Convicted in Absentia for 1974 Brescia Bombing: Your Questions Answered
Q: Who is Marco T.,and what is he accused of?
A: Marco T. is a Swiss citizen currently residing in Landquart,Switzerland. He has been convicted in absentia by an Italian court for his role in the 1974 Piazza della Loggia bombing in Brescia, Italy.The court sentenced him to 30 years in prison for the bombing, which killed eight people during a union rally.
Q: What happened in the Piazza della Loggia bombing?
A: On May 28, 1974, a bomb exploded during a union rally in Piazza della Loggia, Brescia, Italy. The blast killed eight people. The bombing was targeted against neo-fascist violence that destabilized the city.
Q: How was marco T. connected to the bombing?
A: The Italian court identified Marco T. as a right-wing extremist involved in the bombing. Evidence presented in court was described as substantial, although he was convicted in absentia. A former Ordine Nuovo member testified that Marco T. “proudly told me that he was on the Piazza della Loggia that day.” Investigators identified Marco T. in photographs taken at the scene.
Q: What was Marco T.’s involvement before the bombing?
A: In 1974, Marco T. was allegedly involved in the neo-fascist association Ordine Nuovo. He, along with 118 others, faced charges related to the attempted re-establishment of the fascist party but was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Months later, the judge who initially charged them was murdered by an extremist.
Q: Why is Marco T. not serving his sentence?
A: Marco T. lives freely in Switzerland due to several factors.The Federal Office of Justice stated that the statute of limitations has expired for the crime in Switzerland. Furthermore, Swiss law prohibits the extradition of Swiss citizens, even in the event of a conviction.
Q: What is the response from Swiss authorities?
A: Carlo Sommaruga,a Swiss Council of States member,has criticized the situation,stating,”We cannot say that Switzerland protects a terrorist!” He has submitted a request to the Federal council to revoke Marco T.’s citizenship. local authorities in Landquart have declined to comment.
Q: What happened to Marco T. after fleeing Italy?
A: Marco T. fled to Schaffhausen, Switzerland, in the early 1980s. He married and acquired Swiss citizenship. In 1989, Swiss police, acting on an Italian warrant, searched his residence, arresting him for arson and confiscating neo-nazi propaganda. He was extradited to Italy but was acquitted in that case.
Q: What is the current status of Marco T.?
A: Marco T. currently lives undisturbed in Landquart, Switzerland, and is a pensioner. He has never cooperated with Italian investigators concerning the 1974 bombing, invoking his rights when they tried to question him in 2014.