France arrests seven 'Red Brigades' Italians

Seven Italians, on the run since they had been convicted in Italy of terrorism charges linked to the far-left Red Brigades, have been arrested in France, the French presidency said on Wednesday. A search was under way for three other Italians, the presidency added in a statement.

Seven Italians, on the run since they had been convicted in Italy of terrorism charges linked to the far-left Red Brigades, have been arrested in France, the French presidency said on Wednesday.

A search was under way for three other Italians, the presidency added in a statement. It did not give details of those arrested.

Italy had urged French President Emmanuel Macron to extradite extreme-left guerrillas who have been hiding in France for decades to avoid prison sentences in Italy. Hundreds of people were murdered in bombings, assassinations and street warfare by rival far-right and far-left militant factions during a period of social and political turmoil from the late 1960s to early 1980s, known as the Years of Lead.