Alberto Franceschini, Co-Founder of the Red Brigades, Has Passed Away

Alberto Franceschini, who co-founded the notorious armed organization known as the Red Brigades along with Renato Curcio and Mara Cagol, has passed away. The Red Brigades were responsible for kidnapping and assassinating Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978. Franceschini, who served 18 years in prison for his role in the terrorist group that left a dark mark on Italian politics, died on April 11, though news of his death was only made public late Saturday night (April 26, 2025). He was 77 years old and hailed from Reggio Emilia in northern Italy. Arrested by carabinieri in 1974 near Turin, he was sentenced to over 60 years in prison for terrorism, kidnapping, and murder. In 1982, he renounced armed struggle, and in 1992, he was released from prison. Afterward, he worked for a cooperative focused on integrating immigrants and former prisoners into the workforce. Last year, he participated in a protest in Milan supporting Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. His funeral was held privately within a close family circle, with reports indicating he had been battling serious health issues for some time.