Two Italian police officers have been shot and wounded in Rome only a kilometre away from where the new government was being sworn in, reports Reuters.
One of the police officers was shot in the neck and is in a serious condition.
A "well dressed man" has been arrested at the scene.
The man detained at the scene
It is not known if the shooting is connected with swearing in of the new government reports Channel 4.
Premier Enrico Letta, head of the Democratic Party (PD) has formed a coalition government after two months of political wrangling between the centre-left and the conservative bloc of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi.
Giorgio Napolitano will be the new Italian president.
Ministers were stepping forward to take an oath of allegiance at the time of the shooting.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
Italy Shooting
(01 of23)
A man believed to be the assailant lies on the ground after a shootout outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(02 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer is assisted after being shot at outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(03 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer is assisted after being shot at outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(04 of23)
People gather around a wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer who was shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(05 of23)
People gather around a wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer who was shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(06 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer is assisted after being shot at outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(07 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer lies on the ground in the background after being shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(08 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer lies on the ground after being shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(09 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer lies on the ground after being shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(10 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer lies on the ground after being shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(11 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer lies on the ground after being shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Mauro Scrobogna, Lapresse) ITALY OUT (credit:AP)
(12 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer lies on the ground after being shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(13 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer lies on the ground after being shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (credit:AP)
(14 of23)
A man believed to be the assailant lies on the ground detained by police after a shootout outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Reports say two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Mauro Scrobogna, Lapresse) ITALY OUT (credit:AP)
(15 of23)
A wounded Carabinieri paramilitary police officer lies on the ground after being shot outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded Sunday in a crowded square outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Mauro Scrobogna, Lapresse) ITALY OUT (credit:AP)
(16 of23)
A man believed to be the assailant lies on the ground detained by police after a shootout outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Mauro Scrobogna, Lapresse) ITALY OUT (credit:AP)
Sparatoria di fronte a Palazzo Chigi(17 of23)
A man believed to be the assailant lies on the ground detained by police after a shootout outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Reports say two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Mauro Scrobogna, Lapresse) ITALY OUT (credit:AP)
(18 of23)
A man believed to be the assailant lies on the ground detained by police after a shootout outside the Chigi Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, April 28, 2013. Reports say two paramilitary police officers were shot and wounded outside the Italian premier's office as the new leader Enrico Letta was sworn in about a kilometer (half-mile) away. It was unclear if there was any connection between the events. (AP Photo/Mauro Scrobogna, Lapresse) ITALY OUT (credit:AP)
ITALY-POLITICS-SHOOTING-GOVERNMENT(19 of23)
An Italian policeman is carried away by paramedics after two policemen were wounded on April 28, 2013 during a shooting outside the palazzo Chigi, the Italian Prime minister offices, as the country's new ministers were being sworn in. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
ITALY-POLITICS-SHOOTING-GOVERNMENT(20 of23)
An Italian policeman is carried away by paramedics after two policemen were wounded on April 28, 2013 during a shooting outside the palazzo Chigi, the Italian Prime minister offices, as the country's new ministers were being sworn in. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
ITALY-POLITICS-SHOOTING-GOVERNMENT(21 of23)
Ambulances arrive to take car of two wounded policemen, on April 28, 2013 in Rome, following a shooting outside the palazzo Chigi, the Italian Prime minister offices while the country's new ministers were being sworn in. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
ITALY-POLITICS-SHOOTING-GOVERNMENT(22 of23)
An ambulance arrives to take car of two wounded policemen, on April 28, 2013 in Rome, following a shooting outside the palazzo Chigi, the Italian Prime minister offices while the country's new ministers were being sworn in. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
ITALY-POLITICS-SHOOTING-GOVERNMENT(23 of23)
An Italian policeman is carried away by paramedics after two policemen were wounded on April 28, 2013 in Rome, during a shooting outside the palazzo Chigi, the Italian Prime minister offices, as the country's new ministers were being sworn in. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)