Berlusconi attacked after meeting

Silvio Berlusconi was attacked and started bleeding after a meeting in Piazza Duomo. This occurrence, which nobody would have ever wanted to see, put a blemish on what should have been the political event of the day in Milan, as the prime minister launched the membership campaign for his “PDL” party.

Berlusconi was hit by a statuette of, what appeared to be a reproduction of the Milan Cathedral, which was thrown by Massimo Tartaglia, a 42 year-old man who had no criminal record. At the time, Berlusconi was signing some autographs for his supporters, who had gathered in the city centre. The attacker was first stopped and then arrested. Visibly shocked, and bleeding from his lower lip, a pallid Berlusconi was taken to San Raffaele hospital, where doctors took care of him. He suffered a lacerated and contused wound, with damage to two teeth, one, broken, in his upper jaw. He underwent a CAT scan, and the doctors intend to keep him under observation for 24 hours. The knock was violent, and photos of a wounded Berlusconi have appeared all around the world.

 

The attacker, Massimo Tartaglia, who was carried away by the police before the crowd could get to him, is unknown to the Italian secret service, and is not a member of any political group. He is an electronics engineer and a businessman, and has had no previous convictions. Apparently, he has undergone treatment for mental problems at the Milan General Hospital, for 10 years. A psychologist who is taking care of him has gone to police headquarters.