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Two dead as gunman opens fire in Italian court At least two dead as gunman opens fire in Italian court
(35 minutes later)
A man believed to be a defendant in a bankruptcy case has shot two people dead in a Milan court, including a judge, according to a prosecutor cited by Italian media. At least two people have died, including a judge, after a man believed to be a defendant in a bankruptcy trial opened fire in a Milan court. The suspected gunman was arrested after reportedly trying to fleeing the scene by motorbike.
The sound of shots sparked panic, with lawyers fleeing the scene while police officers searched for the gunman, who was thought to be still inside the building, prosecutor Giovanni Canzio said. The alleged gunman, named in Italian media as Claudio Giardiello, had opened fire in the Palace of Justice just before 11am (10am GMT), sparking panic as lawyers and officials fled the scene.
Police scoured the building for the suspect, but he made an escape before being arrested in Vimercate, 16 miles outside Milan, about an hour and a half later.
Italy’s interior minister, Angelino Alfano, confirmed the arrest of the “presumed assassin” in a tweet.
Catturato a Vimercate il presunto assassino di Milano. Ora si trova in caserma dei Carabinieri.
Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that a third person had died but showed no signs of being hit by a firearm and may have suffered a heart attack during the incident.
Media said the gunman had opened fire on the third floor of the Palace of Justice.Media said the gunman had opened fire on the third floor of the Palace of Justice.
“All of a sudden we heard at least three or four shots,” lawyer Marcello Ilia told AFP outside the court.“All of a sudden we heard at least three or four shots,” lawyer Marcello Ilia told AFP outside the court.
“We tried to find out what was going on. There were suddenly lots of police officers who told us not to leave the room, they shut us in,” he said.“We tried to find out what was going on. There were suddenly lots of police officers who told us not to leave the room, they shut us in,” he said.
“After a few minutes we came out. They told us someone in a suit and tie was armed and at large in the court,” he said.“After a few minutes we came out. They told us someone in a suit and tie was armed and at large in the court,” he said.
ANSA and other news outlets said the man suspected of the shooting was in the courthouse for a bankruptcy proceeding.
It was unclear how the gunman gained entrance, as visitors to the building have to pass through metal detectors.
The Palace of Justice is in the historic centre in Milan, only a few streets away from the city’s cathedral and shopping district.The Palace of Justice is in the historic centre in Milan, only a few streets away from the city’s cathedral and shopping district.