Silvio Berlusconi suffers broken nose, teeth after political rally attack

London, Dec 14 (ANI): Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was left with bleeding nose and teeth after being hit in the face by a statue at a political rally.

The 73-year-old media tycoon-turned-politician suffered cuts that needed stitches after being attacked by a man called Massimo Tartaglia, 42 after giving a fiery speech to supporters of his People of Freedom party near Milan cathedral.

"I was about a metre away and I saw blood coming from the premier's nose and mouth," The Sun quoted Defence minister Ignazio La Russa as saying.

Tartaglia has been treated for mental problems over ten years. He was arrested after throwing the statue of the cathedral.

Security around Mr Berlusconi had been tightened amid fears of attacks by Left-wing terrorists.

Berlusconi's top ally Gianfranco Fini said: "This is truly a bad day for Italy." (ANI)