Former communist militant Cesare Battisti was handed over to Italian authorities by Bolivian officials in Santa Cruz on Sunday and put on a plane headed for Rome.
"The plane carrying Cesare Battisti has just taken off headed for Italy. I am proud and moved!" Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini tweeted.
The plane carrying Italian militant Cesare Battisti, wanted in Rome for four murders attributed to a far-left group in the 1970s. Source: Getty
Jailed in 1979 for belonging to the outlawed Armed Proletarians for Communism group, Battisti had been on the run since escaping prison in 1981 and was convicted in absentia of four murders in Italy in the 1970s.
Italy had repeatedly sought the extradition of Battisti, who lived in Brazil for years under the protection of former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010), himself now in prison for corruption.
Battisti, 64, was arrested late on Saturday, Italian interior ministry sources said, and gave up without a struggle after reportedly being caught disguised in a false beard and moustache.
Brazilian authorities originally said he would be sent to Brazil but later, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte posted on Facebook that the runaway "will return to Italy in the coming hours, on a flight leaving from Santa Cruz directly to Rome."
Italian ultra-leftist militant Cesare Battisti has been on the run for four decades. Source: Getty
That was confirmed by Bolivia's interior minister Carlos Romero.
During Brazil's recent presidential campaign far-right President Jair Bolsonaro - who took office on January 1 -vowed that if elected he would "immediately" extradite Battisti to Italy.
In mid-December Brazil's outgoing president, Michel Temer, signed an extradition order for Battisti after a judge ordered his arrest. By then the Italian ex-militant had disappeared and gone on the run.
"Battisti was arrested in the street, unarmed and he didn't resist, responded to police in Portuguese and showed a Brazilian document confirming his identity," an Italian interior ministry source said. "Now Italy is waiting for him."
'Democracy stronger than terrorism'
Italian state police said the arrest had been carried out by a joint team of Italian and Bolivian officers with the help of Italy's counter-terrorism section.
According to Italian government sources, Battisti was spotted "with certainty" in Santa Cruz last week and an operation was prepared with local authorities.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported the fugitive was wearing a false beard and moustache when snatched.
An Interpol team had targeted their search in Santa Cruz before Christmas, closing in on the Italian fugitive in a few of the city's neighborhoods, the paper said.
Italy's envoy to Brazil fired off a triumphant tweet upon hearing the news. "Battisti has been arrested! Democracy is stronger than terrorism!" Ambassador Antonio Bernardini wrote.
Italian authorities on Sunday dispatched a plane carrying police and secret service agents to Bolivia, the interior ministry said.
Prison fugitive, author
Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini thanked the Italian and foreign police who captured "a delinquent who did not deserve the comfortable life on the beach, and who should spend the rest of his days in prison."
Bolsonaro's son, Brazilian lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, tweeted in Italian with a picture of Battisti: "Brazil is no longer the land of bandits. Matteo Salvini, the 'little gift' is on its way."
After escaping prison, Battisti was convicted in absentia of having killed two Italian policemen, taking part in the murder of a butcher, and helping plan the slaying of a jeweller who died in a shootout which left his 14-year-old son in a wheelchair.
Battisti admitted to being part of the group but denied responsibility for any deaths.
He reinvented himself as an author, writing a string of noir novels. In 2004 he skipped bail in France, where he had taken refuge. He went to live clandestinely in Brazil until he was arrested in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro.
After years in custody, then-president Lula issued a decree -- later upheld by Brazil's Supreme Court -- in 2010 refusing Battisti's extradition to Italy, and he was freed, angering Italy.
Battisti, who has a five-year-old Brazilian son, last year told AFP he faced "torture" and death if he were ever to be sent back to Italy.
