Bomb Blast Hits Venice Courthouse

A bomb blast rocked a courthouse near the scenic Rialto Bridge in the heart of this lagoon city Thursday, further raising tensions throughout Italy after last month’s violence-marred Group of 8 summit in Genoa.

The explosion, which injured a police officer on routine patrol and damaged the courthouse wall and nearby stores, occurred 12 hours before a scheduled visit by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Officials immediately opened an investigation, and Berlusconi urged all political forces to unite to snuff out violence and terrorism.

“This is a worrying escalation of violence,” Berlusconi said as he arrived in the city. “All democratic forces in the country must unite in reaction against it.”

While condemning the blast and appealing for calm, Berlusconi noted that he, the interior minister and other politicians had received threatening letters and bullets in the mail.

Although there was no confirmed link between the bomb and Berlusconi’s visit, Mayor Paolo Costa said, “My feeling is that this is an attack that wants to send a signal to someone.”