#582 | Piazza Fontana & The Accidental Death of An Anarchist

#582 | Piazza Fontana & The Accidental Death of An Anarchist

Author: Leonardo English December 5, 2025 Duration: 25:30

 


A deadly bomb. A death in a police station. A secret kept from the public. 

In 1969, an explosion in Milan killed 17 people. The police accused a group of anarchists, but the story was not that simple. 

In part one of this three-part mini-series on "Gli Anni Di Piombo" (The Years of Lead), we look at how this tragedy started one of the darkest times in Italian history. 

  • Italy modernising fast, but divided and tense.
  • 12 December 1969: bomb at Milan’s Piazza Fontana.
  • Seventeen dead, eighty-eight injured; shock across Italy.
  • Coordinated Rome bombs; no claim; anarchists blamed.
  • Anarchist Giuseppe Pinelli dies after police questioning; controversy.
  • Pietro Valpreda arrested; weak evidence; years before acquittal.
  • Evidence pointed to far-right group Ordine Nuovo.
  • Suspected cover-ups by police and secret services.
  • Strategy of tension; suspected Gladio links; extent unclear.
  • Impact: fear, ordinary victims, start of the Years of Lead.


 Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/piazza-fontana


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If your language studies could use a dose of fascination, English Learning for Curious Minds might just be what you're looking for. Created by Leonardo English, this podcast is designed for intermediate to advanced learners who are tired of dry textbooks and repetitive exercises. Instead, each episode dives into a curiously compelling topic-you might explore the history of forgotten inventions, unravel mysteries of ancient cultures, or discuss surprising scientific discoveries. The conversation is deliberately paced for comprehension, allowing you to absorb natural pronunciation and complex vocabulary in context. To support your learning, every episode includes an interactive transcript, subtitles, and key vocabulary lists. It’s this blend of genuine intellectual curiosity and practical learning tools that has built a global community, with listeners tuning in from 189 different countries. The result is a genuinely engaging way to build fluency, where improving your English feels less like a chore and more like a series of fascinating conversations about the weird and wonderful aspects of our world.
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