|
The Train 904 bombing, also known as the Christmas Massacre, was a terror attack which occurred on December 23, 1984, in the ''Apennine Base Tunnel''. A bomb on the 904 express train (''Rapido 904'') from Naples to Milan was detonated, killing 17 and wounding 267. The bombing location was near the location of the Italicus Express bombing ten years previously. The motive behind the bomb attack was to distract Italian security forces from investigating the Sicilian Mafia after the testimony of the Mafia turncoat Tommaso Buscetta to Antimafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone had led to a series of arrest warrants in September 1984 that subsequently would lead to the Maxi Trial against 474 Mafia defendants.〔 (Rapido 904: "Un intreccio tra mafia, camorra e politica" ), Il Fatto Quotidiano, April 27, 2011〕 Mafia boss Giuseppe Calò, also known as "Pippo", was convicted for ordering and organising the attack in February 1989. In April 2011 Mafia "boss of bosses" Salvatore Riina was indicted for ordering the bombing.〔 (Strage rapido 904, ordine custodia a Riina ), ANSA, April 27, 2011〕 ==The bombing== On Sunday, December 23, 1984 the ''Rapido 904'' was on regular service between Naples and Milan. It was traveling northbound, overcrowded by 700 holiday passengers coming back home or visiting relatives due to the upcoming Christmas holidays.〔(Italy: Tunnel of Death ), Time Magazine, January 7, 1985〕 At 19:08 a bomb exploded in the ninth car, a 2nd class coach in the middle of the train-set. The train was 8 kilometers into the Apennine Base Tunnel, on the Florence-Bologna line near Vernio, on a long straight stretch with speed limits of up to 160 km/h at the time, and was running at 150 km/h. The bomb had been placed on a luggage rack whilst the train was in Florence Santa Maria Novella railway station. Unlike train bombings in the previous decades of political turmoil, the bomb was remote controlled and was detonated while the train was well into the tunnel, in order to maximize the damage. The bomb exploded as planned. Its shock wave, reflected by the tunnel sides, blew out all the windows glass and internal doors, throwing shrapnel-like shards into the compartments. 15 died as a direct consequence of the blast, and two more died later because of their wounds. The emergency brake was pulled, and the train came to a stop a thousand or so meters from the blast, 8 kilometers from the northern entrance and 10 from the southern. Train conductor Gian Claudio Bianconcini - at his last journey before retiring - was wounded in the nape of his neck, but managed to reach a service telephone and call for help. Passengers were scared and stranded in the cold Apennines' winter.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Train 904 bombing」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|