Years of Lead (Italy)

The Years of Lead was a period in Italian history characterised by terrorism and political violence between leftists and autonomists, neo-fascists and the government.

Events

1980

15 assassinations occured, the Red Brigades killed

1983

On the 26th of August, the Red Brigades attacked a military troop convoy in Salerno, killing a soldier and 2 police officers. On the 21st of October, the Red Brigades robbed a bank in Turin, and killed the two guards.

1984

On the 15th of February, Leamon Hunt, American diplomat and Director General of the international peacekeeping force, Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), was killed by the Red Brigades.

On the 23rd of December, a train traveling between Florence and Rome was bombed by neo-fascists and the mafia, killing 17 and wounding more than 200. The fascists, including a member of Parliament were arrested over the next few years.

1985

On the 9th of January, in Torvaianica (a town near Rome), policeman Ottavio Conte was killed by the Red Brigades. On the 27th of March, in Rome, economist Ezio Tarantelli was killed by the Red Brigades.

1986

On the 10th of Febuary, Lando Conti, former Mayor of Florence, was killed by the Red Brigades.

1987

On the 20th of March, Licio Giorgieri, a general in the Italian Air Force, was assassinated by the Red Brigades in Rome.

1988

The Red Brigades kill Senator Roberto Ruffilli in Forlì, Emilia-Romanga, on the 16th of April. On the 23rd of October, the Red Brigades issues a communication declaring the war against the Italian state to be over.