Via d'Amelio bombing

bombing

via d'amelio

23 / 10 / 2024

START

linda botteon federico cecconato rida el mahi vincenzo sabatelli

INDEX

WHEN/WHERE

victims

causes

the attack

overview

aftermath

legacy

Sitography

WHEN / WHERE

19/07/1992

VIA mariano d'amelio, palermo

VICTIMS

paolo borsellino

victims

CAUSES

THE ATTACK

THE PREPARATIONS

On July 18th Spatuzza and Tutino bought two car batteries and an antenna to detonate the bomb remotely. They then brought the explosive-filled Fiat 126 to a garage in Via Villasevaglios, noting the presence of 3 other mafia affilitias which would then continue the preparations. Salvatore Vitale, who lived in the same building as Borsellino's mother, acted as a lookout to track his visits during the week, so that his routine was well know to Cosa Nostra.

THE ATTACK

how it happenEd

On the 19th of July 1992, at 4:58pm, Borsellino arrived at his mother’s apartment, and at the same time the Fiat 126 with the trunk containing 90 kilograms of Semtex-H was remotely detonated, resulting in a massive explosion which killed Borsellino and five members of his escort. The only survivor was Antonio Vullo, who later would describe the horror of the massacre.

Via Mariano d'Amelio, Palermo, Sicily

The Emergency Services inspect the scene of the event

The exact place where the explosion happened

AFTERMATH / IMPACT

PUBLIC REACTION

Protests across Italy demanded justice and a stronger fight against the mafia, turning grief into a movement for change. Everybody attended to the funerals shouting "Get the mafia out of the State".

AFTERMATH / IMPACT

POLITICAL REACTION

Law enforcement intensified efforts against the mafia, leading to the arrest of key figures.

TRIALS

• "Borsellino Tris" (1998-2006) : Key figures like Giuseppe Madonia and Benedetto Santapaola were accused of planning the bombing. Many received life sentences. In 2002, the appeal court modified some sentences, and in 2003, the Supreme Court sent parts of the case back for review.

• "Borsellino Quater" (2008-2021) : In 2008, Gaspare Spatuzza, a former mafia member, began cooperating with authorities and admitted to stealing the car used in the bombing. His statements led to the reopening of investigations. In 2011, another collaborator, confirmed Spatuzza's account. Several people had their sentences reconsidered, and in 2013, Spatuzza and others were convicted.

TRIALS

Following the massacre, there were several trials over the years, marked by revelations, false repentances and numerous reversals.

• "Borsellino Uno" (1994-1999) : This trial led to the arrest of Vincenzo Scarantino, who accused himself, implicating other mafia members. Scarantino retracted in 1995, claiming that he had accused innocent people.

• "Borsellino Bis" (1996-2003) : In 1996, key mafia members were charged for Borsellino's murder based on Scarantino's statements. Although Scarantino retracted, claiming intimidation, the "Borsellino Bis" trial proceeded. Riina and others received life sentences, and further testimonies led to additional convictions, all confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2003.

THE TURNING POINT

In July 2018, the Caltanissetta Prosecutor's Office asked for police officer Mario Bo and inspectors Michele Ribaudo and Fabrizio Mattei to be put on trial for helping to make false statements. The three had been part of the "Falcone-Borsellino" team which was in charge of the initial investigations into the Via D'Amelio bombing. They also managed the controversial cooperation of Vincenzo Scarantino with the authorities. According to the investigation and evidence from the trial, called "Borsellino quater", the three officers allegedly forced Scarantino to lie by threatening, mistreating, and pressuring him.

LEGACY

• The Via d'Amelio bombing remains a powerful symbol of the sacrifices made for justice. Each year on July 19, Italy commemorates this event.

• In the field of asset seizure, from 1992 to the 31st of December 2018, assets worth over 17 billion euros were seized and confiscations worth almost 10 billion euros were carried out.

• Furthermore, from 1992 to 2011, around 9,400 people suspected of mafia association were arrested.

SITOGRAPHY

• https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strage_di_via_D%27Amelio

• https://www.raicultura.it/storia/foto/2022/07/La-strage-di-via-DAmelio-5b33d66f-40e5-43f1-bf87-f4f7ae6e31fc.html

• https://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/palermo--32--anniversario-della-strage-di-via-d-amelio

• https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direzione_Investigativa_Antimafia

“Those who fear, die every day; those who don’t, only die once.”-Paolo Borsellino

THANK you!