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Uproar in Italy as guest injured after Italian MP takes gun to NYE party

An MP from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party was at the centre of a political storm on Tuesday after taking a gun to a New Year's Eve party where someone was shot with it.

Uproar in Italy as guest injured after Italian MP takes gun to NYE party
Fireworks at New Year Photo by MARIO TAMA / Getty Images via AFP)

Emanuele Pozzolo, a lawmaker for Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, has admitted owning the mini revolver — reported to be a 22-calibre North American Arms revolver — but says he did not fire it.

It was discharged by accident, he said, causing a light injury to the leg of a guest, the son-in-law of a bodyguard of junior justice minister Andrea Delmastro — who was also in attendance.

“I confirm that the shot was accidentally fired from a pistol I legally held but it was not me that fired,” Pozzolo, 38, said in a statement cited by the La Repubblica daily.

The incident at the party in Rosazza near Turin, which about 30 guests attended, is under investigation, according to reports. But the story drew astonishment and outrage among opposition politicians.

Possession of firearms in Italy is strictly regulated, although Meloni’s party last month proposed to reduce to 16 the minimum age at which someone can obtain a permit for a hunting rifle.

“We could not have imagined that the passion for weapons of Giorgia Meloni’s party was such that MPs would take them loaded to New Year’s Eve parties,” said Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party.

 Former centrist prime minister Matteo Renzi added: “Why bring guns to a New Year’s Eve party in the presence of MPs and members of the government?

“Meloni’s (party) are not a ruling class. They are inadequate, incapable, unpresentable. And dangerous, first and foremost for themselves.”

Neither Meloni or her party has yet to react officially.

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WAR IN UKRAINE

Italy says Russia media ban cannot erase effects of ‘illegal war’

Italy on Tuesday condemned Russia for blocking access to dozens of European media outlets, saying it would not erase the effects of a "violent, devastating and illegal war" in Ukraine.

Italy says Russia media ban cannot erase effects of 'illegal war'

The foreign ministry described the ban as “unjustified”, saying the Italian outlets affected – the broadcasters RAI and La7 and newspapers La Repubblica and La Stampa – had “always provided objective and impartial information on the Ukraine conflict”.

It said Russia’s attacks in Ukraine against civilians, cities and the energy network “will not be erased by the bans imposed on media and journalists in Italy and around the world who continue to follow devastating and inhumane activities with professionalism and independence”.

READ ALSO: Italy warns against ‘rash’ moves over arms to Ukraine

“The decision of the Russian Federation is one that does not remove or lessen the effects of a violent, devastating and illegal war,” it said.

Italy this year holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group of wealthy nations.

Russia said on Tuesday that it was blocking access to dozens of European media outlets, including AFP websites, in response to an EU broadcasting bans on several Russian outlets imposed last month.

The announcement comes after the European Union unveiled a ban on four Kremlin-controlled media outlets in May, accusing them of being “instrumental in bringing forward and supporting” Moscow’s Ukraine offensive.

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