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| Berlusconi attack 'premeditated' | Berlusconi attack 'premeditated' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An attack on Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Sunday was premeditated, Italy's interior minister, Roberto Maroni, has said. | An attack on Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Sunday was premeditated, Italy's interior minister, Roberto Maroni, has said. |
| Mr Maroni said the suspect, named as Massimo Tartaglia, had been "developing a rage" against the PM "for some time". | Mr Maroni said the suspect, named as Massimo Tartaglia, had been "developing a rage" against the PM "for some time". |
| Mr Berlusconi, 73, suffered a broken nose, cuts and two broken teeth after being hit with a model of Milan cathedral after a rally in the city. | Mr Berlusconi, 73, suffered a broken nose, cuts and two broken teeth after being hit with a model of Milan cathedral after a rally in the city. |
| He is to leave hospital on Wednesday with orders to rest, his doctor said. | He is to leave hospital on Wednesday with orders to rest, his doctor said. |
| The prime minister's personal physician Alberto Zangrillo told journalists on Tuesday that Mr Berlusconi had been ordered not to carry out "important" public activities for two weeks. | The prime minister's personal physician Alberto Zangrillo told journalists on Tuesday that Mr Berlusconi had been ordered not to carry out "important" public activities for two weeks. |
| Mr Berlusconi has already cancelled plans to attend the UN climate summit in Copenhagen. | Mr Berlusconi has already cancelled plans to attend the UN climate summit in Copenhagen. |
| Italian media reaction In pictures: Attack on Berlusconi Berlusconi bloodied but unbowed | Italian media reaction In pictures: Attack on Berlusconi Berlusconi bloodied but unbowed |
| "Physically, he is eating normally, but with a bit of difficulty," Mr Zangrillo said. "In terms of morale, it's still a matter of concern... but he is showing signs of recovery." | "Physically, he is eating normally, but with a bit of difficulty," Mr Zangrillo said. "In terms of morale, it's still a matter of concern... but he is showing signs of recovery." |
| He said the prime minister had spent "a quiet night" at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. | He said the prime minister had spent "a quiet night" at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. |
| Mr Maroni said the assailant had been in the square in Milan for some hours ahead of Mr Berlusconi's arrival "to prepare for his mad action". | Mr Maroni said the assailant had been in the square in Milan for some hours ahead of Mr Berlusconi's arrival "to prepare for his mad action". |
| "He was equipped with pepper spray and also a resin crucifix," he said. | "He was equipped with pepper spray and also a resin crucifix," he said. |
| "He had been developing a rage against the prime minister for some time." | "He had been developing a rage against the prime minister for some time." |
| Mr Maroni said the attacker didn't belong to any political group and described him as unmarried and suffering from "paranoia". | Mr Maroni said the attacker didn't belong to any political group and described him as unmarried and suffering from "paranoia". |
| He said an investigation into the incident had been launched. | He said an investigation into the incident had been launched. |
| The attack led to criticism of the security surrounding Mr Berlusconi, but Mr Maroni said police check every area visited by the prime minister well in advance. | The attack led to criticism of the security surrounding Mr Berlusconi, but Mr Maroni said police check every area visited by the prime minister well in advance. |
| The minister also commented on Italian media reports that two members of the public had warned police of Mr Tartaglia's behaviour before the attack. | |
| He said the two had been interviewed and they had only reported "a mad person who was disturbing passers-by". | |
| Earlier, lawyers for Mr Tartaglia, who reportedly has a history of mental illness, said he had apologised for his "cowardly and rash act". | Earlier, lawyers for Mr Tartaglia, who reportedly has a history of mental illness, said he had apologised for his "cowardly and rash act". |
| The alabaster model, similar to this one, was flung from close range | The alabaster model, similar to this one, was flung from close range |
| "I don't recognise myself," Mr Tartaglia said in a letter which his lawyers took to the hospital where Mr Berlusconi is being treated. | "I don't recognise myself," Mr Tartaglia said in a letter which his lawyers took to the hospital where Mr Berlusconi is being treated. |
| Mr Berlusconi was signing autographs in a crowd of people when the object - described by Mr Maroni as an alabaster model - struck him full in the face. | Mr Berlusconi was signing autographs in a crowd of people when the object - described by Mr Maroni as an alabaster model - struck him full in the face. |
| Amid chaotic scenes he was bundled into a car, his face bloodied, and driven to hospital. | Amid chaotic scenes he was bundled into a car, his face bloodied, and driven to hospital. |
| Mr Zangrillo said the prime minister had lost half a litre (one pint) of blood in the attack. | Mr Zangrillo said the prime minister had lost half a litre (one pint) of blood in the attack. |
| Messages of goodwill for Mr Berlusconi have been left around the gates of the San Raffaele hospital. | Messages of goodwill for Mr Berlusconi have been left around the gates of the San Raffaele hospital. |
| One banner left by supporters of AC Milan football club - of which Mr Berlusconi is president - said "Forza Presidente" (Go President). | One banner left by supporters of AC Milan football club - of which Mr Berlusconi is president - said "Forza Presidente" (Go President). |
| The attack on Italy's often controversial prime minister has caused deep shock in Italy. | The attack on Italy's often controversial prime minister has caused deep shock in Italy. |
| The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Milan, says politicians on the left and right are accusing each other of creating an atmosphere of hate in which the attack was made possible. | The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Milan, says politicians on the left and right are accusing each other of creating an atmosphere of hate in which the attack was made possible. |
| Since the incident, pages on social networking sites praising the attacker have been joined by thousands of people. | Since the incident, pages on social networking sites praising the attacker have been joined by thousands of people. |
| Mr Maroni accused them of "inciting hostility" towards Mr Berlusconi and said the government was considering taking legal action against them. | Mr Maroni accused them of "inciting hostility" towards Mr Berlusconi and said the government was considering taking legal action against them. |
| In October, Italian officials opened an inquiry into a Facebook group called "Let's kill Berlusconi", which had more than 16,000 members. | |
| Are you in Italy? What is your reaction to the attack? Send us your views using the form below. | Are you in Italy? What is your reaction to the attack? Send us your views using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the form below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |