On August 2, 1980, Italy experienced the worst terrorist attack in its history with the Bologna station bombing.
At 10:25 am, a suitcase containing 23 kilograms of explosives detonated in a crowded waiting room. It caused extensive damage to the station and a nearby train and resulted in 85 fatalities and over 200 injuries. The impacted were a mix of locals, tourists, Italians, and foreign nationals. Many victims were killed instantly or trapped under the collapsing roof.
The attack occurred during one of the busiest travel periods, the first Saturday of the traditional August holiday. The air-conditioned waiting room, rare in Italy at the time, was filled with people seeking relief from the heat. The station clock has since been permanently set to the time of the explosion, serving as a memorial.
This bombing marked the most lethal incident during Italy’s “Years of Lead,” a period of extreme political violence from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. The violence began with the killing of a police officer during a far-left demonstration in Milan in 1969. It also included the notorious Piazza Fontana bombing, which killed 17 people. The period saw numerous bombings and assassinations, including the high-profile kidnapping and murder of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978. In total, the Years of Lead claimed 428 lives.
Bologna station bombing
The Bologna attack, aimed at causing maximum casualties, symbolised a dark chapter in Italian history. It targeted a city known for its left-wing politics and anti-Fascist resistance. Despite an early claim of responsibility from the far-right Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari (NAR), the investigation was protracted and complex. It took seven years to bring anyone to trial. A further decade of trials, appeals, and retrials took place before NAR members Valerio Fioravanti and Francesca Mambro were convicted.
Conspiracy theories have persisted about the true masterminds behind the attack. Some speculate involvement by secretive groups like Operation Gladio, a covert NATO “stay-behind” operation set up during the Cold War, or the clandestine Masonic lodge Propaganda Due (P2), which included numerous Italian officials among its members.
There were even suggestions of Israeli intelligence involvement due to Italy’s alleged sympathy for the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Although these theories remain unproven, several individuals, including P2 leader Licio Gelli, were convicted of providing false information to mislead the investigation.
The Bologna station bombing stands as a grim reminder of the violence that marked Italy’s recent history and the enduring complexities of political and ideological conflicts.