The group was named by the media because of a ticket found in Mario Rossi's pocket when he was arrested after a failed robbery attempt that ended in murder.
Its political approach was Marxist–Leninist but among its members were also petty criminals and even a fascist, Diego Vandelli, enrolled in the MSI and police informer.
On 26 March 1971, Rossi and Viel robbed a security officer who transported the wages for the Genoa Public Housing Institute's dependents.
A passerby took a photo the moment when Rossi, on a scooter driven by Viel, pointed his gun against the body of Floris, lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
The image, besides becoming a symbol of the years of lead, helped to identify the killer, who was captured the same day, after a long chase in the city's streets.
The group spread their anti-fascist propaganda by hijacking radio or television transmissions and the members distributed pamphlets.
The group used guerilla warfare in an urban setting to respond to grievances they had using a manual written by a revolutionary from Brazil as their guide.
The October 22 Group was only active for about two years before it disbanded due to the accidental murder of security officer Alessandro Floris by Mario Rossi.
The terrorist group asked, in exchange of the judge's life, the freedom and the expatriation to a communist country of Mario Rossi and the other members of the XXII October.