They had just struck 10.25 of the August 2th, 1980, when the face of Bologna and the whole of Italy was about to change forever. Just then, in the second-class waiting room of the Bologna Central Station, the clock struck its last tick when a bomb per time of 23 kg (hidden in an abandoned suitcase) not only destroyed part of the building and the area in front, but also the life of 85 Guests and their families, also injuring about 200. The massacre of Bologna it was one of the most serious acts of terrorism that occurred in Italy after World War II. In 1995 they were sentenced to life imprisonment as material executors of the massacre Giuseppe Valerio Fioravanti e Frances Mambro belonging to the neo-fascist group of NAR (Revolutionary Armed Nuclei). In 2007 also came the sentence (in the first degree) to 30 years of jail for Luigi Ciavardini, considered the third perpetrator of the attack.
Trials and convictions for misdirection
The Bologna massacre of 1980 was the subject of numerous misdirections. These also involved members of the Masonic lodge P2 and SISMI (Military Information and Security Service). From the "explosion of a boiler" to the international conspiracy, the investigators found themselves faced with various paths to follow, some of which were completely invented. Precisely for misdirection, in 1995, the prosecutors condemned the former head of P2 Licio Gelli, the officers of the SISMI Joseph Belmont e Peter Musumeci and the fixer Francis Patience (collaborator of SISMI). To date, various trials are still underway on the misdirection of investigations and perjury, on the (political) nature of the massacre and on the principals. Some defendants have already died, such as the former general of the Sisde Quintino Spella, for others, filing is required, such as the former general of the Ros Mario Mori.
The material executors of the Bologna massacre, Fioravanti and Mambro, despite the sentence a various life sentences, they are both free today. The first was released for good behaviour (2009) and the second for sentence extinguished (2013), after obtaining probation in 2008. In 2017 the terrorist of the NAR was also indicted, Gilberto Cavallini, for concurrence in the Bologna massacre. In January 2020 he received the first instance sentence to thelife sentence.
Today they remain of the Bologna massacre more doubts than certainties. Although they have passed 41 years, the investigators were unable to trace the instigators of the massacre. Since 1981 the "Association among the families of the victims of the massacre at the Bologna station on 2 August 1980”Continues to seek justice for the too many lives broken that summer morning. Will the truth about this terrible massacre ever be known? It is probable. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, the story becomes more blurred and the principals still remain unpunished.
Events in memory of the Bologna massacre
On the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Bologna massacre, theANPI and Solidarity Committee for the victims of the massacres they organized the event "The truth has no time“, Which will take place on 1 and August 2th. The event will start at 8 in the morning with the running relay "For Bologna to NOT Forget on 2 August 1980“, With departure from the Central Station of Bologna. The appointment will then be at Villa Torchi Social Cultural Center, With the commemoration for the children victims of the massacre of 2 August 1980.
Il August 2th, the commemorations will begin at 6.30 with thearrival of the running relays a Montagnola Park. In the morning, at the Central Station, there will be one stand of Poste Italiane which will reveal a philatelic cancellation dedicated to the massacre. At 9.15 am from Piazza Nettuno instead a procession which will go as far as the Central Station. After the speech by Paul Bolognese, President of the Family Association Victims of the Massacre at the Bologna Station, in the square Gold Medals, you will hear a triple train whistle and we will observe a minute of silence. Crowns will then be placed in memory of the victims of the Italicus massacre and at 11.15 the archbishop of Bologna will celebrate Holy Mass in the church of San Benedetto. At 11.30 in via Stalingrado a crown will then be placed at the monument in memory of the taxi drivers who died on 2 August 1980.
In the afternoon, the teams Cotabo, RFI Bologna e FER Ferrovie Emilia Romagna Group they will play a triangular soccer match, on the occasion of the event "Sport remembers". At 21.15 pm, in Piazza Maggiore, there will be room for music with the 27esima edition of the International composition competition 2 August. After the concert ofOrchestra of the Municipal Theater of Bologna, directed by Marcus Angius, is scheduled "Orpheus”, A tribute to Igor stravinsky 50 years after his death.
