Bio

Gianfranco Bertoli was born on 30 April 1933. He died on 17 December 2000.

Bertoli described himself as an anarchist. He used that label in public statements.

Later research identified him as a long-time informant for the Italian military intelligence service. He also had links with various anti-communist and neo-fascist organizations. Among those links were connections to a group called New Order, which was tied to the Operation Gladio stay-behind network.

In 1975 Bertoli was convicted in relation to an attack and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Various anarchist organizations, including the Italian Anarchist Federation, publicly denounced the act.

Murder Story

At 11 a.m. on 17 May 1973, a hand grenade was thrown at Milan's police headquarters in Lombardy, Italy. It happened during a memorial ceremony for police officer Luigi Calabresi, who had been shot dead in Milan a year earlier. Four civilians were killed by the blast and 45 other people were injured.

The attacker was Gianfranco Bertoli (30 April 1933 – 17 December 2000). He self-identified as an anarchist. He was later identified as a long-time informant for the Italian military intelligence service and had links with various anti-communist and neo-fascist organizations, such as New Order, which was linked to the Operation Gladio stay-behind network and the so-called strategy of tension.

Bertoli was arrested at the scene. In 1975 he was convicted in relation to the attack and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The attack was denounced by various anarchist organizations, including the Italian Anarchist Federation, in a press release almost instantly.