Há várias
teorias
acerca os motivos da recusa do governo italiano em negociar a
libertação de Aldo Moro com os sequestradores e sobre os interesses
envolvidos no seu sequestro e morte. Segundo o
historiador Sergio Flamigni, as Brigadas Vermelhas foram usadas pela
Gladio, rede dirigida pela
NATO, de modo a justificar a manutenção da
estratégia da tensão. O
filósofo Antonio Negri chegou a ser preso, acusado de ser o inspirador da ação das Brigadas Vermelhas e do
assassinato de Aldo Moro.
On March 16, 1978, on Via Fani, a street in Rome, a unit of the militant communist organisation known as the
Red Brigades (
Italian:
Brigate Rosse)
blocked the two-car convoy transporting Moro and kidnapped him,
murdering in cold blood his five bodyguards. At the time, all of the
founding members of the Red Brigades were in jail; the organisation led
by
Mario Moretti that kidnapped Moro, therefore, is said to be the "Second Red Brigades."
On the day of his kidnapping, Moro was on his way to a session of the
House of Representatives, where a discussion was to take place
regarding a vote of confidence for a new government led by
Giulio Andreotti
(DC) that would have, for the first time, the support of the Communist
Party. It was to be the first implementation of Moro's strategic
political vision as defined by the
Compromesso storico (historic compromise).
In the following days, trade unions called for a
general strike,
while security forces made hundreds of raids in Rome, Milan, Turin and
other cities searching for Moro's location. Held for two months, he was
allowed to send letters to his family and politicians. The government
refused to negotiate, despite demands by family, friends and Pope
Paul VI.
In fact, Paul VI "offered himself in exchange … for Aldo Moro …"
During the investigation of Moro's kidnapping, General
Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa reportedly responded to a member of the security services who suggested torturing a suspected
brigatista, "Italy can survive the loss of Aldo Moro. It would not survive the introduction of torture."
The Red Brigades initiated a secret trial where Moro was found guilty
and sentenced to death. Then they sent demands to the Italian
authorities, stating that unless 16 Red Guard prisoners were released,
Moro would be killed. The Italian authorities responded with a
large-scale manhunt.
