The news that Prime Minister Berlusconi had been injured by an aggressor during a political rally in Milan travelled round the world at breakneck speed on Sunday. A gift to the headline writers of the British tabloids, internet commenters have had a field day too, with many suggesting that a bop on the nose is just what their own politicians need.
In Italy, however, few people are laughing and the word you will hear everywhere is “vergogna” – shame. This is ironic as “vergogna” is the word Mr Berlusconi’s detractors shout at him whenever they have the opportunity. But make no mistake about it: Sunday was a “shameful” day for Italians as well as a sad one, for although Mr Berlusconi has always provoked strong reactions, no one wanted to see this. The Premier himself knows that things could have been much worse and has said from hospital that he feels blessed because, had his attacker got a centimetre closer, he could have been lying in hospital minus an eye instead of with a lacerated lip, two fractured teeth and a fracture along the bridge of his nose.
What actually happened, then?
Well, Mr Berlusconi likes to meet people and “work a crowd” and was doing just that among supporters in Milan. The attacker, a 42-year-old called Massimo Tartaglia, was two rows behind Mr Berlusconi but it seems he suddenly leapt forward over people’s shoulders and either hit Mr Berlusconi with, or threw at him, a stone or metal model of Milan Cathedral. The Premier was bundled into his car by his security men and taken to hospital while police grabbed Tartaglia and dragged him away from the scene, where the mood had turned ugly. He was found to have been carrying a crucifix and chilli pepper spray.
Later we learned that Tartaglia has psychological problems and has been undergoing treatment for these for ten years. He has not committed any previous offences nor does he belong to any political organisation. He lives with his parents, works for his father and is reported to have had a normal social life. His father spoke briefly to reporters before the police arrived at his besieged apartment and said that he thought his son had acted as he did “because of the negative atmosphere in Italy” .
Whether this turns out to have been an out of character gesture by a vulnerable and perhaps suggestible man or something more sinister, be assured that it is being taken seriously in Italy:
President Napolitano has called the attack “a serious and rash act of violence” and has appealed for political differences to be settled in a civil way while Umberto Bossi, the Leader of the Lega Nord, has called it “an act of terrorism.”
Gianfranco Fini, President of the Chamber of Deputies, has said that “Sunday was an ugly day for Italy” and called the attack a “very grave act”.
Antonio Di Pietro, the leader of the Idv party, has, however, caused controversy by condemning violence but at the same time stating that Mr Berlusconi incites it.
The Vatican has condemned the attack and added that “violent words can lead to violent acts”.
In the following playlist you can see images of Berlusconi attacked at Piazza Duomo, as reported from Rai News 24, C6.tv and CNN / La 7:
Doctors at Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital say that Mr Berlusconi will not need an operation but will be hospitalised for at least 48 hours. The recovery period is estimated at 20 days. A medical bulletin is expected at noon Italian time. Mr Berlusconi remains in charge of the government whilst in hospital.
Do you think this was "an act of terrorism"?
Can public figures safely mingle with a crowd these days?
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