Schoolgirl killed in Italy bombing

Rome, May 19 (IANS) A minor schoolgirl was killed and seven others were injured Saturday in a bomb explosion outside a school in southern Italy.

The bombing took place around 8 a.m. in Brindisi in Puglia region, as the students were entering the school building, Xinhua reported citing Rai television.

The explosive device was reportedly placed outside the school. The surrounding area and all schools in the city were evacuated.

local prosecutor Milto Denozza said the explosion was a "tragic attack".

The school, named after Giovanni Falcone - an anti-mafia magistrate who was killed in a bomb attack in 1992 - is located in front of a court. On Saturday, an anti-mafia march had been planned in the area, the official said.

The government recently announced a plan to increase counter-terrorism intelligence, saying 14,000 sites in the country were currently considered potential targets.