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Magazine Overview

Title: Nouvelles internationales
Issue Date: December 1978 (specifically December 6-7 and 27-28)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of "Nouvelles internationales" focuses on an extraordinary case from Italy: the alleged abduction of a night watchman named Fortunato Zanfretta by an unidentified flying object (OVNI) in Gênes.

The Torriglia Incident: December 6-7, 1978

The main article details a terrifying experience that occurred to Fortunato Zanfretta, a 26-year-old married father of two, working for the "Valbisagno" cooperative in Torriglia, province of Gênes. On the night of Wednesday, December 6th, transitioning into Thursday, December 7th, 1978, Zanfretta was on his usual patrol in a Fiat 126 equipped with a radio.

Around midnight, with excellent visibility, Zanfretta noticed white lights in front of a villa. These lights were arranged in a triangle and moved about a meter above the ground. Believing he was encountering thieves, he stopped his car, turned off the engine, and tried to contact his central office. To his surprise, the radio failed, as did the car's headlights and interior lights.

He decided to investigate on foot, armed with a flashlight. He observed the lights but saw no one. The silence was absolute. He noticed the garden gate and the villa's entrance door were open. As he approached, the lights moved closer, passed in front of him, and disappeared behind the north side of the house.

The Encounter with the Entity

Zanfretta then moved towards the south angle of the house. Suddenly, he felt an inexplicable, strong push, unlike a physical blow. He fell forward onto the lawn. His flashlight, which had fallen, turned on. He grabbed it and turned to face what he expected to be thieves. As he turned, the visor of his cap hit something. Illuminating it, he saw what appeared to be an assembly of large, dark grey tubes stacked on top of each other.

He then looked up and saw a "giant head" about 3 meters high, dark green in color, approximately 60 cm wide. It had two enormous, yellow, triangular eyes that were tilted upwards. On its forehead was an indistinct feature, luminous yellow, with irregular wrinkles. The head was laterally completed by sharp-looking protrusions, and in front, something resembling ears or horns, straight and pointed, turned upwards.

Before he could fully comprehend the sight, the entity disappeared. Terrified, Zanfretta fled the garden, attempting to reach his car. As he ran, he heard a loud, unbearable, modulated whistling sound and felt a wave of heat.

He stopped instinctively and turned, hoping to see something reassuring, but what he saw terrified him further. Against the dark sky, a large, flattened triangle, like a Chinese hat, was visible. Its base was obscured by an intense, blinding light that forced him to shield his face. He saw the light zigzag and abruptly ascend towards the zenith.

Zanfretta rushed to his car, where the lights were now functioning normally, and the radio was also working. He alerted his central office, shouting, "My God, they are horrible, they are not men, they are not men," and then fainted.

This event occurred around midnight, and he regained consciousness at 1:06 AM, meaning he had lost approximately 50 minutes. His colleagues found him trembling, his body and clothes burning.

Physical Traces and Subsequent Investigations

Upon examination of the site, the villa's gate and door were found to be perfectly closed, with nothing missing. On the lawn where Zanfretta had fallen, an obscure, horseshoe-shaped imprint was discovered, measuring 3 cm deep, 15 cm wide, with a minimum diameter of 2.5 m and a maximum of 8 m. Another similar imprint was found on the northwest lawn, invisible in daylight but visible at night when illuminated.

At the location where the triangular object was believed to have ascended, a slight radioactivity was detected, measuring around 0.25 mR/h between 3:30 PM and 4:45 PM.

Hypnosis Regression Sessions

Zanfretta agreed to undergo regressive hypnosis in the presence of a psychoanalyst, a sophrologist, a physicist, two journalists, and a lieutenant from the Carabinieri. During these sessions, he relived his experience with intense emotion, recounting events that filled the 18-minute gap in his memory.

He described his fear of these monstrous, unknown beings and protested when they intended to take him "elsewhere." He stated he submitted to their will, noting that they used unknown methods to suggest and submit him, preventing him from moving or looking around. He expressed anxiety about who or what was manipulating him, insisting on their non-human nature and torment from a "light" and "unbearable heat." He pleaded to be released.

Dr. Moretti, the sophrologist, decided not to delve deeper into the second period (the duration of his blackout) due to Zanfretta's anxious state.

A Second Encounter: December 27, 1978

While investigators were still examining the initial facts, Zanfretta had another experience. On Wednesday, December 27th, 1978, in the evening, while driving a Fiat 127 for the "Valbisagno" cooperative, he experienced severe headaches that had plagued him for four days. He also noticed his vision was impaired by a "fog." He tried to stop the car, but the brakes failed, and the vehicle veered uncontrollably onto a secondary road.

His attempts to brake or steer were futile. The car accelerated, and Zanfretta, desperate, contacted his central office by radio at 11:46 PM. The car continued to ascend and arrived in a deserted area.

The Second Abduction

Overwhelmed by pain and an intense need to sleep, Zanfretta began to understand what was happening but was not afraid. The car stopped abruptly near a luminous oval object. The door opened, and he felt compelled to exit. At 11:50 PM, he reported to the central office, "They are telling me to get out."

His colleagues launched a search and found him at 1:09 AM on December 28th. He had no memory of what happened, only recalling a yellow luminous screen warning him that the next time they would take him forever. He felt he had something to say.

He spontaneously agreed to a second hypnosis session on January 7th, though Dr. Moretti had initially advised against it.

Physical State and Car Condition

Upon finding Zanfretta, his colleagues noted that his body and clothes were extremely hot, as was the car's roof above the driver's seat, despite heavy rain. The car itself showed no damage. In the surrounding woods, numerous broken branches were found, along with 50 cm long "foot" imprints. Six of the seven projectiles from Zanfretta's revolver were also found; the shots had not been fired, and the remaining six cartridges were missing.

Similarities Between Encounters

The two encounters shared common elements: the timing (December 6-7 from 11:45 PM to 1:06 AM, and December 27-28 from 11:46 PM to 1:09 AM), Zanfretta's body and clothes being burned, his revolver in his hand, and his state of shock.

Medical examinations after both experiences revealed hypertension due to emotional shock.

Hypnosis Session of January 7th

During the January 7th session, Zanfretta, under hypnosis, expressed fatigue and a sense of being controlled by the car. He mentioned being unable to communicate with the central office and feeling lost. He described a thick fog and a feeling of fear. He reported the car stopping and being called to exit.

He described the light as blinding and the beings as not wanting him to look. He recalled them being tall, with green skin, yellow triangular eyes, red veins, and sharp protrusions on their faces. He noted their lack of mouths and their round hands. He felt they were "horrible" and not human.

He expressed his desire to go home, stating he had two children and did not want to be taken. He felt they were taking his projectiles and that the "helmet" on his head was causing pain. He felt heat and a strong current.

When asked about his origin, he indicated "very far away." He was told that when others did not expect it, they would return. He expressed fear and a desire not to go with them.

Expert Opinions and Further Details

Dr. Moretti confirmed Zanfretta's calm state and asked him to describe the object he entered. Zanfretta described it as flat and triangular on the outside, with a "steel" color. Inside, he saw green light that lifted him into a large room filled with dials and controls. He estimated there were more than ten beings present.

He described their speech as coming through a light from their mouths, and that they spoke "very badly." He reiterated their tall stature, green skin, yellow eyes, red veins, and the sharp protrusions on their faces. He noted their long arms and legs, and large feet. They had no clothes, only a "grille" on their heads that emitted light.

When asked if they told him where they came from, he said "very far away." They indicated they would return when he least expected it.

Television Broadcast and Medical Scrutiny

This hypnosis session was broadcast on a TVS program on January 12th, 1979. Dr. Moretti stated that, in his opinion, Zanfretta had not simulated the event. The case sparked debate among medical professionals regarding the best methods for hypnosis.

Zanfretta, troubled by the controversy, underwent a truth serum test on February 7th. The session, held at the International Center for Medical and Psychological Hypnosis in Genoa under Professor Marco Marchesan, was also attended by the director of the "Valbisagno" cooperative, Giuliano Buonavici, journalist Rino di Stefano, and Luciano Boccone from the National Ufological Center.

During the 75-minute session, Zanfretta, asked to recount the facts without adding anything, repeated and confirmed his previous statements. New details emerged, including the kidnappers' intention to give him an object as proof of their existence during a future encounter. Their goal, he suggested, was to establish contact with humanity, a contact made difficult by their repulsive appearance. Zanfretta was seen as a test subject to study the possibility of communication.

Professor Marchesan emphasized the distinction between objective and subjective truth but affirmed that Zanfretta could not have been lying, ruling out a hoax.

Preceding Incident

An additional detail revealed was an incident prior to the two main encounters. In January 1978, while on night patrol, Zanfretta saw a white, lenticular object with two reddish spheres on its upper left side. A red light descended upon him, possibly indicating he was being considered as a potential interlocutor.

Legal and Medical Repercussions

Due to his mental confusion after the encounters, Zanfretta's firearm permit was temporarily revoked. It was reinstated on February 8th following a medical certificate from Professor Giorgio Giannotti, a neurologist specializing in nervous and mental diseases. His employer also required him to undergo several neuropsychiatric visits (December 28-30, 1978, and January 31, 1979). These confirmed his perfect psychological and neurological condition, with no thought alteration, normal senses, and logical reasoning, deeming him fit for work without further observation or therapeutic advice.

Critical Analysis and Speculation

The issue also includes a section titled "Spéculations" and "Etude critique," which touches upon the concept of extraterrestrial encounters and the nature of UFOs. It references Méheust's theories, suggesting that UFOs might be manifestations of the human psyche rather than physical craft. The article discusses the idea of HETs (Humanoid Extraterrestrial Types) and how their appearances might be influenced by human expectations and mental schemas. It also touches upon the concept of UFOs 'materializing' and the potential for misinterpretation of phenomena, citing the Argentinian case of Trancas.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents UFO sightings and alleged alien encounters as serious phenomena worthy of investigation. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness towards these events, emphasizing detailed reporting of witness testimonies, physical evidence, and expert analyses, including hypnosis. The focus on Zanfretta's case highlights the magazine's interest in abduction scenarios and the psychological impact on witnesses. The inclusion of critical analysis suggests an attempt to provide a balanced perspective, even while leaning towards the reality of such unexplained events.