The night-time hit on the Hotel Azure, which left eight men dead, would later be generally accredited with being the spark which began the Corsican Mafia war in the spring of 1965.
The two main rivals in the war, the Guerini and Francisci Clans, had long been bitter rivals, each jockeying for position and power. The Guerinis had the power the Franciscis wanted. It was only a matter of time before something started the fire. The Guerini-owned and controlled Hotel Azure was a three story building overlooking the Old Port, and while it was generally referred to as a hotel, it was in reality a brothel and gambling den for the soldiers of the Guerinis.
On the ground floor was the barestaurant and reception areas, together with a back room where the gamblers could while away the hours doing wh
