Today is February 28th, 2020.

On this day in 1921, Italian anarchist Mario Buddha was arrested in his village of Savignano during an anti-fascist

protest. But little did the authorities know they had apprehended the man suspected of a deadly bombing in New York City.

Welcome to today in True Crime, a parcast original.

Today we're covering the arrest of Mario Buddha, a notorious and deadly anarchist.

Let's go back to the afternoon of February 28, 1921, in Italy's Romania region. The rise of the fascists had sent waves throughout Italy.

The movement's leader, Benito Mussolini, had gained massive support since he founded the party just two years before in 1919 and his followers were

vocal about their cause. On February 28th, 1921 a group of them arrived in the small village of Savignano to put up posters

advertising their politics. But not everyone had bought into Mussolini's

strong arm tactics.

Upon learning of the fascist's presence,

a contingent of local anti-fascists

went to confront them.

One of these anti-fascists was 36-year-old Mario Buddha, who had recently returned to

Savignano after spending the last few years in America.

With his short stature, neat mustache, and receding hairline, Buddha hardly cut an imposing

figure. But the man known as Nazoni or Big Nose was far more dangerous

than anyone in Savignano could imagine. He led his friends straight up to the fascist and boldly

told them they weren't welcome. Immediately a scuffle broke out. As the town constable tried to break up the fight,

a gunshot rang out from the crowd and hit the lawman fatally wounding him.

Once the chaos subsided,

16 people were arrested, including Mario Buddha.

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