MILAN - Three people have been killed by a gunman in a Milan courtroom, during an attack which took place on Thursday morning. The man was a defendant in a bankruptcy case and has since been arrested by police.

 According to reports, judge Fernando Ciampi was amongst the dead in addition to lawyer Lorenzo Appiani. The shooter, who has been identified as Claudio Giardello, also injured two of his co-defendants during the attack. Giardello allegedly told police that he wanted to take revenge on those who were responsible for ruining him and causing his bankruptcy.

 Lorenzo Appiani had previously represented Giardello as his counsel, however was about to testify in court against his former client when he was killed. Giardello then moved downstairs and shot dead Ciampi, who was a Milanese bankruptcy judge. 

 Following the attack, Giardino fled the scene of the crime on a motorbike and travelled to the nearby town of Vimercate where he was arrested by police, said judicial sources, who added that he may have entered the courthouse via a side door, where he allegedly showed false identification to security personnel. 

 Earlier reports said four people were killed but subsequently police said the death toll was three. 

 jp-dt