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teams making their way through the rubble]] The Bologna massacre, also known in Italy as the '''''Strage di Bologna''''', was a Terrorist bombing at the Central Station of Bologna , Italy on the morning of 2 August 1980 , which killed 85 people and wounded more than 200. Far-right terrorist organization '' Ordine Nuovo '' has been accused of it, while two Italian Secret Service agents and the headmaster of P2 Masonic Lodge , Licio Gelli , were convicted for investigation diversion. At 10:25 a.m., a timed Improvised Explosive Device (IED) contained in an unattended suitcase detonated inside a waiting room. The IED was made of TNT and T4 . The explosion destroyed most of the main building and hit the Ancona - Chiasso train that was waiting at the first platform. The blast was heard for miles. On that summer Saturday the station was full of tourists and the town was unprepared for such an incident: ambulances were not enough, so even buses and taxis were used to take casualties to the hospitals. The Italian government led by Francesco Cossiga and police authorities first considered that it could be an accidental blast, then immediately tried to draw attention on the Italian-based militant group Red Brigades as the possible authors of the bombing. Attempts to divert and obstruct investigations very soon became evident. This gave rise to a number of conspiracy theories in relation with the so-called Strategy Of Tension . A long, troubled and controversial court case and political issue ensued. The relatives of the victims formed an association (''Associazione tra i famigliari delle vittime della strage alla stazione di Bologna del 2 agosto 1980'') to raise and maintain civil awareness on the case. On 23 November 1995 the Italian Supreme Court (''Corte di Cassazione'') issued the final sentence:
To date instigators and political inspirators behind the attack are still unknown. Some thought Gladio network's influence could be perceived. Every 2 August is designated as a memorial day for all the massacres. The municipality of Bologna together with the ''Associazione tra i famigliari delle vittime della strage alla stazione di Bologna del 2 agosto 1980'' organize every year an international composing competition that ends with a concert in the town's main square ''Piazza Maggiore''. The wing of the station in which the bomb detonated has been reconstructed but, as a testimony to the attack, the original pavement was maintained as well as a deep crack in the main wall. Moreover, the station main clock is forever stopped at 10.25, the exact time of the explosion. SEE ALSO
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