Baluarte
04-28-2013, 02:26 PM
A gunman is tackled to the ground after opening fire outside the new prime minister's office, injuring two policemen.
A shooting outside the Italian PM's office that wounded two policemen was the "tragic criminal gesture of an unemployed man, the interior minister has said.
The shooting took place as Premier Enrico Letta and his new government were being sworn in at a different location in Rome a short distance away.
The assailant, an Italian man dressed in a suit and tie, was detained at the scene.
He suffered a head injury as he was tackled to the ground by police, as witnesses fled the scene.
One of the wounded officers is carried away
"The tragic criminal gesture this morning was carried out by an unemployed 49-year-old man who showed signs of wanting to commit suicide," Angelino Alfano said.
The suspected gunman was identified as Luigi Preiti, from the southern region of Calabria.
Mr Alfano said the man intended to kill himself but ran out of bullets after firing six shots.
New reports said he had shouted "Shoot me! Shoot Me!" at the police during the shooting.
The square was quickly cordoned off as crowds fled the scene
Sky Italia quoted the suspect's brother as saying the alleged attacker had lost his job in a construction firm and was upset over marital problems.
One of the officers was shot in the neck and was reported to be in a serious condition.
The other was hit in the leg. A female passer-by was also injured but not seriously.
Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno said the shooting was "not an act of terrorism", but stressed that a bitter political climate in the past few months had heightened tensions.
The shooting on a sunny Sunday morning occurred as a huge crowd was waiting for Mr Letta, who was due to come to the prime minister's office for a transfer of power from his predecessor, Mario Monti.
Mr Letta had been at swearing-in ceremony, held at the presidential Quirinale Palace, with his ministers.
The suspected gunman lies on the floor
They were kept briefly inside that palace as a precaution until it was clear there was no immediate danger.
The episode came at a time of rising social tensions exacerbated by a long economic slump and two months of political deadlock following inconclusive elections in February.
Mr Letta, a 46-year-old leftist moderate, held days of tricky negotiations and formed a broad-coalition government on Saturday.
President Giorgio Napolitano (L) with Mr Letta at the ceremony
The Cabinet includes members of his Democratic Party and their former rivals, the conservatives led by Silvio Berlusconi.
Mr Berlusconi is not himself in the government but some of his close allies have prominent ministerial jobs, such as Mr Alfano.
Mr Letta aims to pass reforms aimed at promoting growth and employment in the recession-mired country and rejuvenate a political class marked by scandals and accusations of corruption.
Forensic experts at the scene
The prime minister strove to fill the Cabinet with new faces, younger ministers and several women.
Prominent among them is Emma Bonino, a former EU commissioner who will serve as foreign minister.
Olympic gold medal kayaker Josefa Idem was tapped as minister of equal opportunity and sports, while Congo-born Cecile Kyenge was named minister of integration and became Italy's first black minister.
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Guy didn't manage to commit suicide, didn't manage to kill any plutocrat and injured police officers....
Total failure.
A shooting outside the Italian PM's office that wounded two policemen was the "tragic criminal gesture of an unemployed man, the interior minister has said.
The shooting took place as Premier Enrico Letta and his new government were being sworn in at a different location in Rome a short distance away.
The assailant, an Italian man dressed in a suit and tie, was detained at the scene.
He suffered a head injury as he was tackled to the ground by police, as witnesses fled the scene.
One of the wounded officers is carried away
"The tragic criminal gesture this morning was carried out by an unemployed 49-year-old man who showed signs of wanting to commit suicide," Angelino Alfano said.
The suspected gunman was identified as Luigi Preiti, from the southern region of Calabria.
Mr Alfano said the man intended to kill himself but ran out of bullets after firing six shots.
New reports said he had shouted "Shoot me! Shoot Me!" at the police during the shooting.
The square was quickly cordoned off as crowds fled the scene
Sky Italia quoted the suspect's brother as saying the alleged attacker had lost his job in a construction firm and was upset over marital problems.
One of the officers was shot in the neck and was reported to be in a serious condition.
The other was hit in the leg. A female passer-by was also injured but not seriously.
Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno said the shooting was "not an act of terrorism", but stressed that a bitter political climate in the past few months had heightened tensions.
The shooting on a sunny Sunday morning occurred as a huge crowd was waiting for Mr Letta, who was due to come to the prime minister's office for a transfer of power from his predecessor, Mario Monti.
Mr Letta had been at swearing-in ceremony, held at the presidential Quirinale Palace, with his ministers.
The suspected gunman lies on the floor
They were kept briefly inside that palace as a precaution until it was clear there was no immediate danger.
The episode came at a time of rising social tensions exacerbated by a long economic slump and two months of political deadlock following inconclusive elections in February.
Mr Letta, a 46-year-old leftist moderate, held days of tricky negotiations and formed a broad-coalition government on Saturday.
President Giorgio Napolitano (L) with Mr Letta at the ceremony
The Cabinet includes members of his Democratic Party and their former rivals, the conservatives led by Silvio Berlusconi.
Mr Berlusconi is not himself in the government but some of his close allies have prominent ministerial jobs, such as Mr Alfano.
Mr Letta aims to pass reforms aimed at promoting growth and employment in the recession-mired country and rejuvenate a political class marked by scandals and accusations of corruption.
Forensic experts at the scene
The prime minister strove to fill the Cabinet with new faces, younger ministers and several women.
Prominent among them is Emma Bonino, a former EU commissioner who will serve as foreign minister.
Olympic gold medal kayaker Josefa Idem was tapped as minister of equal opportunity and sports, while Congo-born Cecile Kyenge was named minister of integration and became Italy's first black minister.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guy didn't manage to commit suicide, didn't manage to kill any plutocrat and injured police officers....
Total failure.