Two Policemen Shot Outside Italian Prime Minister’s Office
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iStockphoto(ROME) — A gunman in Rome wounded two policemen in a crowded square near the prime minister’s office on Sunday.
Police arrested the suspect, identified as Luigi Preiti according to BBC News.
A Rome prosecutor says the gunman intended to target politicians, but could not find any and opened fire on police. instead.
He was apparently motivated by economic woes and frustration with the Italian government. Two months of political impasse and a deepening economic crisis have left many Italians fed up with what they see as out-of-touch politicians.
The gunman had recently lost his job and was desperate. He confessed everything to the police when he was arrested, and according to the prosecutor he did not appear mentally imbalanced.
BBC News reports that one of the injured policemen is in serious condition with a wound to his neck, while the other has a serious wound to the leg. They also report that a pregnant woman was slightly hurt.
While this was happening, Prime Minister Enrico Letta, and the new government were being sworn in a few blocks away. The swearing-in followed two months of political deadlock.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio