4 – Aldo Moro (1978)
The most tragic entry on the list might be Aldo Moro, former Italian Prime Minister and leader of the Christian Democracy Party, was kidnapped in bloody fashion. On March 16, 1978, a group of terrorists called the Red Brigades attacked Moro’s car and killed both of the politician’s bodyguards and the three policemen in the car behind him. The group demanded the release of 13 leftist prisoners in exchange for Moro.
Even to this day, the exact location of Moro’s ‘prison’ is in dispute. Officially, the Red Brigades held him in an apartment in Via Camillo Montalcini in Rome. However, Moro’s brother, Carlo Alfredo, believes the politician was held in a seaside location. During his captivity, Moro was allowed to write a series of letters (86 in total) to various individuals, including his family and Pope Paul VI.
Moro was held captive for 55 days, and during this period, the Red Brigades issued a total of nine communications that outlined their reasons for kidnapping the hostage. Initially, they wanted the release of various terrorists, but ultimately, they announced that Moro would be released in exchange for only one terrorist.
Eventually, the Red Brigades grew tired of waiting, and on May 9, 1978, they held a ‘process of the people’ where Moro was clearly ‘found guilty’ and executed by a man named Mario Moretti. On the morning of the execution, the kidnappers woke Moro up at 6 a.m. and said they were moving him to another location. One of the Red Brigades members apparently told Moro that he was ‘pardoned,’ but instead; they placed him in a wicker basket and brought the politician to the parking lot of their base. Next, Moro was placed in the trunk of the Renault, covered with a red sheet and shot by Moretti.
The terrorists dumped Moro’s body in the trunk of a red Renault, and it was found in the historic center of Rome. There were traces of sand in the socks and pockets (the reason why Moro’s brother believed he was held near the beach) and traces of vegetables. Up to 10 terrorists were involved in the kidnapping, and eight were arrested. Alvaro Lojacono and Alessio Casimirri managed to flee to Switzerland and Nicaragua, respectively.