Carini
Remembering the via Carini massacre: a bitter history
The via Carini massacre, which occurred on September 3, 1982 in Palermo, was one of the most terrible mafia actions in Italian history. In that attack, the prefect of the province of Palermo and carabinieri general Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa, his wife Emanuela Setti Carraro, and the escort agent Domenico Russo lost their lives. The Autobianchi A112 used in the attack is preserved in the historical museum of Voghera.
The massacre
On the evening of the attack, Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa left Villa Whitaker aboard a beige Autobianchi A112 along with his wife and escort agent Domenico Russo. As they passed through via Isidoro Carini, a large-displacement Honda motorcycle pulled alongside them, and Russo's Alfa Romeo Alfetta was hit with an AK-47 assault rifle. At the same time, a BMW 518 reached the A112 and one of the passengers opened fire on the car's windshield, killing the couple.
Pino Greco, known as "Scarpuzzedda," got off the motorcycle and checked the deadly outcome of the ambush. The car and the motorcycle used were taken to an isolated place and set on fire, while the murderers were picked up and taken away by three cars driven by bosses Raffaele Ganci, Gaetano Carollo, and Vincenzo Galatolo. Escort agent Domenico Russo died twelve days after the massacre from the wounds he sustained.
Motivations
The main motivation for the attack was Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa's activity against the mafia. As the head of the special anti-terrorism unit of the Carabinieri, he had led the state's counter-offensive against extreme left-wing terrorist groups, particularly the Red Brigades, with remarkable results. Thanks to this, he gained high prestige in the field and was sent to Palermo as the city's prefect after the murder of Communist union leader and politician Pio La Torre.
During his three years in Palermo, the mafia had killed several people, including investigators, magistrates, and politicians such as Boris Giuliano, Cesare Terranova, Piersanti Mattarella, Gaetano Costa, and Pio La Torre. General dalla Chiesa then initiated a process of disintegration of the terrorist phenomenon in Italy that would only be definitively concluded after his death.
The memory of the massacre
The via Carini massacre is still an open wound in its city today. It is difficult to forget the courageous figure of General dalla Chiesa and his wife, innocent victims of mafia terrorism.
The Historical Museum of Voghera
The Autobianchi A112 used in the attack is preserved in the historical museum of Voghera (Pavia), along with other cars belonging to historical and political personalities. The museum is open to the public and represents a space for knowledge and education on Italian history.
Monuments
Several monumental works have been erected in memory of the massacre in Palermo. The main monument is located in via Isidoro Carini, where the attack took place. It is a large bronze statue depicting Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa and his wife Emanuela Setti Carraro, created by Palermo artist Salvatore Mangione.
Moreover, in the same area, there is a garden dedicated to the victims of the mafia, with a fountain in the center that recalls the symbol of Italian anti-mafia.
Conclusion
The via Carini massacre remains a tragic event in our country's history. It is essential to remember and honor the victims of mafia terrorism and continue to fight against this form of criminality. The fight against the mafia is a commitment of all of us, honest citizens who want to build a better future for future generations.
