Turin: A bullet was mailed to Turin Mayor Sergio Chiamparino for his support of a controversial Italy-to-France high-speed train which opponents say will damage the environment.
The 9-calibre bullet arrived on Monday at city hall two days after thousands of people gathered in the Italian town Susa, along the border with France, to protest the train line. Residents say the tunnels will harm the Susa Valley's fragile ecosystem.
Italy and France in 2001 agreed to build the EUR 15 billion line from Turin to Lyon in central France, which will serve as a link in the European network and cut travel time between Milan and Paris from seven to four hours.
It's not uncommon in Italy for bullets to be mailed to adversaries as threats. Police are investigating a package containing three bullets mailed earlier this month to a prominent anti-terrorism judge in the northern city of Milan.
"I'm completely calm and I won't change the work I'm doing for the TAV," Chiamparino said on Monday, referring to the high-speed train.”
IANS
First Published: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 12:17