ROME, Italy – Barbara Balzerani, a prominent figure in Italy’s Red Brigades known for her involvement in the kidnapping and murder of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978, has passed away at the age of 75, as reported by media outlets on Monday.
Balzerani, one of the few women in leadership positions within the radical Marxist armed group, was sentenced to three life terms for her role in the political turmoil of the 1970s and 1980s, a period characterized as Italy’s “Years of Lead.”
After being detained in 1985 and subsequently released on parole in 2006 before being granted permanent release in 2011, Balzerani transitioned into a career as a writer. Despite never expressing remorse for the group’s actions, she did convey regret for the individuals impacted by the violence.
The infamous abduction of Moro, who served as prime minister during two separate terms, took place on March 16, 1978, when he was taken by Red Brigade militants. Tragically, Moro’s body was discovered in a car in central Rome on May 9 after being held captive for 50 days.
Identified under the code name “Sara,” Balzerani participated in a number of other high-profile operations conducted by the Red Brigades, including the kidnapping of American General James Lee Dozier in Verona in December 1981. Italian law enforcement eventually freed Dozier, a prominent NATO figure at the time, after a 42-day captivity ordeal.