Red Brigades Petrella to remain in France on humanitarian grounds

The decision of France not to extradite a former member of the Italian left-wing Red Brigades terrorist group, due to ill health, does not weaken French resolve to fight terrorism, according to the office of the president, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Marina Petrella’s weakend state and “profound depression” is potentially life threatening and the extradition decree was annulled on humanitarian grounds.

The family of Carla Bruni, the wife of the French president, spoke on behalf of Petrella before a decision was reached.

Petrella was convicted in absentia in Italy in 1992 of complicity in the murder of a police chief a year earlier. She was sentenced to life in prison.

Meanwhile victims of the Red Brigades campaign, waged in the 1970s and 80’s, have demonstrated against the decision outside the Elysee Palace.

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