Primavalle Fire
Encyclopedia
The Primavalle Fire was an arson
which occurred in Rome
on April 16, 1973, and which caused the death of two youngsters, children of neo-fascist MSI member Mario Mattei.
The fire was caused by the far left autonomist group Potere Operaio
, who, during the night, threw an inflammable substance on the door of the house of Mattei, in the quarter of Primavalle
. Mattei was the local leader of Movimento Sociale Italiano, the Italian post-Fascist party. When the fire broke out, Mattei and part of his family managed to escape, but his sons, Virgilio, aged 22, and Stefano, aged 8, burnt to death.
In the aftermath of the fire, some prominent Italian intellectuals (e.g. Norberto Bobbio
) mobilized in favor of the left-wing activists accused of committing these murders, and tried to attribute the attack to internal dissensions among MSI members.
Activists of Potere Operaio Achille Lollo, Marino Clavo, Manlio Grillo were eventually convicted and condemned to 18 years in a second degree sentence. However, while on bail, Lollo fled to Brazil, where his crime was declared prescribed. Grillo fled to Nicaragua
, helped by Oreste Scalzone
, who had also assisted Lollo. As of 2007, Marino Clavo is in hiding.
In two interviews released in 2005, both Lollo and Grillo admitted for the first time their responsibility in the act. Grillo also declared that Potere Operaio had connections with the Red Brigades
. Franco Piperno
, national secretary of Potere Operaio in 1973, also confirmed that the leaders of the organization were informed of the fire facts some days after it, and kept all members' responsibilities hidden.
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
which occurred in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on April 16, 1973, and which caused the death of two youngsters, children of neo-fascist MSI member Mario Mattei.
The fire was caused by the far left autonomist group Potere Operaio
Potere Operaio
Potere Operaio was a radical left-wing Italian political group, active between 1968 and 1973. Among the group's leaders were Antonio Negri, Franco Piperno, Oreste Scalzone and Valerio Morucci, who led its clandestine...
, who, during the night, threw an inflammable substance on the door of the house of Mattei, in the quarter of Primavalle
Primavalle
Primavalle is the 27th quarter of Rome. It is part of the Municipio XIX.The first edifices were built in 1938.-See also:*Rogo di Primavalle...
. Mattei was the local leader of Movimento Sociale Italiano, the Italian post-Fascist party. When the fire broke out, Mattei and part of his family managed to escape, but his sons, Virgilio, aged 22, and Stefano, aged 8, burnt to death.
In the aftermath of the fire, some prominent Italian intellectuals (e.g. Norberto Bobbio
Norberto Bobbio
Norberto Bobbio was an Italian philosopher of law and political sciences and a historian of political thought. He also wrote regularly for the Turin-based daily La Stampa....
) mobilized in favor of the left-wing activists accused of committing these murders, and tried to attribute the attack to internal dissensions among MSI members.
Activists of Potere Operaio Achille Lollo, Marino Clavo, Manlio Grillo were eventually convicted and condemned to 18 years in a second degree sentence. However, while on bail, Lollo fled to Brazil, where his crime was declared prescribed. Grillo fled to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, helped by Oreste Scalzone
Oreste Scalzone
Oreste Scalzone is an Italian Marxist intellectual and one of the founders of the communist organization Potere Operaio....
, who had also assisted Lollo. As of 2007, Marino Clavo is in hiding.
In two interviews released in 2005, both Lollo and Grillo admitted for the first time their responsibility in the act. Grillo also declared that Potere Operaio had connections with the Red Brigades
Red Brigades
The Red Brigades was a Marxist-Leninist terrorist organisation, based in Italy, which was responsible for numerous violent incidents, assassinations, and robberies during the so-called "Years of Lead"...
. Franco Piperno
Franco Piperno
Franco Piperno is an Italian former communist militant. He is currently an associated professor of Condensed Matter Physics in the University of Calabria..-Biography:Piperno was born at Catanzaro....
, national secretary of Potere Operaio in 1973, also confirmed that the leaders of the organization were informed of the fire facts some days after it, and kept all members' responsibilities hidden.