Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who usually has no trouble making headlines for his priceless soundbites and personal scandals, wound up in the hospital Sunday after being attacked after a rally in Milan. More from the BBC:

“He suffered two broken teeth, a minor nose fracture and cuts to his lip after being struck by a man wielding a souvenir model of the city’s cathedral.

Mr Berlusconi, 73, tried to assure supporters afterwards he was OK.

The alleged attacker, who has a history of mental illness, has been charged with throwing the souvenir.

Massimo Tartaglia, 42, had no previous criminal record, police were quoted as saying.

After the attack on Sunday evening the prime minister, looking dazed, was helped to his feet by aides and put in a car. He got out and tried to climb on the car to show he was all right, before being driven away.

It was a typical show of defiance by a political fighter, says the BBC’s Duncan Kennedy in Rome.

Mr Berlusconi insisted he was well at the hospital.”

Still, the attack is bound to raise new questions about security surrounding the gregarious Berlusconi, who loves the crowds and wants them to love him, therefore doesn’t exactly stay put behind a gantlet of security.

BBC also has video of the attack.

(Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)