Berlusconi Attacked With Flying Object (But He's Not The First)

On Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was attacked and injured during a political rally in Milan. The embattled politician sustained two broken teeth, a fractured nose and cuts after a member of the crowd hurled a scale model of Milan's Cathedral at the PM's face.

Berlusconi was rushed to hospital where he is currently under observation and the 73 year old issued a statement saying that he is doing well after receiving medical help.

The PM is having a rough ride politically (and personally) and many critics would say it was only a matter of time until an incident like this was inevitable. He's been under heavy scrutiny after his wife recently filed for divorce and allegations of sleeping with prostitutes came to light. Berlusconi has also been accused of having criminal links with the Mafia.

To make matters worse, a law that would usually grant Berlusconi immunity from prosecution was recently overturned.

In short, Berlusconi's popularity as the leader of Italy is plummeting, but that doesn't stop the gregarious statesman from socializing with crowds during rallies where he can often be seen chatting to reporters and signing autographs.

This was seen as an opportunity by Massimo Tartaglia, a 42 year old with no criminal record (but with a history of mental illness), to lob a statue at the unsuspecting PM.

Interestingly, in a sign of defiance, Berlusconi climbed onto his car (after being helped up by his aides) to show the crowd his bloodied face, proving that, although stunned, he wasn't afraid.

This isn't the first time that a prominent politician has been attacked in a public place by a projectile.

There are many examples in history where sticks, stones and rotten vegetables have been thrown at politicians, but in this age of hi-tech security, it can be hard to imagine an assailant getting close enough to a public figure to throw a scale model of the Milan Cathedral at them. But in reality, it's rather common.

In 2001, there was a media frenzy surrounding the UK's Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott after he defied an attacking protester with his fist, punching the attacker (twice) for throwing an egg (at close range) at his head.

Prime Minister Tony Blair defended his second in command, saying, "[John Prescott] regrets the whole incident ever happened. He felt a blow on the side of his head and reacted instinctively."

(I'm sure Berlusconi wishes he had the opportunity to react "instinctively" too.)

Sticking with the scary business of UK politics, in 2004, Tony Blair was subject to a different kind of projectile attack. This time it was a series of condoms filled with a purple powder that rained down from the public viewing gallery in the House Of Commons during a Prime Minister's question time.

Blair was hit by one of the flying condoms, powder exploding over his back. All the attending politicians were hurried out of the building amid fears that the powder might have been anthrax or ricin.

Fortunately, the condom payload was benign, but the protesters were arrested. Many security guards were chastised for letting the men into Parliament.

Politician projectile abuse isn't exclusive to Europe however. In 2008, during a surprise visit to Iraq, US President Bush had a chance to show off his well-trained duck-and-weave skills when an Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at Bush during a press conference.

This novel form of protest caused another member of the press to ask Bush why he thought the man threw his shoes at him. Bush responded with, "I don't know what the guy's cause is, but one thing is for certain, he caused you to ask me a question about him."

So, although throwing something at a politician you dislike might make you feel better and might give your cause its 15 minutes of fame, you will get arrested (and/or punched in the face).

Although it would appear Silvio Berlusconi's injuries are fairly superficial, questions are bound to be asked about his personal safety at these rallies. Perhaps he shouldn't be mingling with the crowds within throwing-range? Just a thought.

Image credits: BBC, AP