Posted on 01/02/2005 9:49:51 AM PST by an italian
ROME - A man struck Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi with a camera tripod Friday in a Rome piazza, giving him a slight bruise but no major injuries, his office said.
The premier's bodyguards and police quickly blocked the assailant after the attack in Piazza Navona, a large bustling square at the heart of the capital.
Police were questioning the assailant, who was a tourist from the northern town of Mantua, the ANSA news agency said.
Berlusconi, who had a slight bruise between his right ear and neck, saw a doctor as a precaution, the report said.
The prime minister was "saddened" by the attack, his office said, adding it had no information on the motive.
The conservative premier's allies immediately spoke out against the attack and offered their support.
"Everything is fine, I'm okay," Berlusconi told journalists as he left his private Roman home at Palazzo Grazioli flashing a thumbs-up sign.
A young Italian man, who was reported as saying he could not resist the temptation, hurled his camera tripod at Berlusconi Friday when the media-savvy politician appeared in front of him on Rome's central Piazza Navona.
Berlusconi, who was strolling around the square with his bodyguards, was reported to have suffered a small scratch on his ear and a bruise on his neck but was otherwise unhurt.
On Saturday Berlusconi carried a plaster behind his right ear.
His assailant, identified as 28-year-old mason Roberto Del Bosco from the northern city of Mantua who was on vacation in the Italian capital, was arrested.
He has no police record but risks up to seven years in prison for attacking a politician.
"I did it because I hate him," he told investigators Friday.
"When I saw him in front of me, shaking hands with the crowd, I couldn't resist," he said.
Leni
He is only a coward.
It's amazing how many amateur photographers don't realize that cheap, flimsy tripods just won't do the job.
Soon it will be "OK" for liberals who don't like elections results to physically attack the Conservative winners.... and the media will spend hours telling us "why...."
An excellent way to start the year.
Ping
You like it that Berlusconi was attacked?
Why?
Who is in charge of Mr. Berlusconi's security? Ronald Mc Donald? This is dangerous sloppiness in security detail. Assailants should be neutralized BEFORE they strike.
The left is going absolutely NUTS! The very thin veneer of civilization is falling and revealing that they have been nothing but barbarians all along.
People die to keep faith with civilized behavior all the time, starting with Socrates. Civilization isn't a veneer and it isn't thin.
Actually, the comment was meant as encouragement for An Italian (the poster).
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