A man has shot dead at least two people in the Palace of Justice courthouse in Milan, according to officials.
Media have identified the shooter as Claudio Giardiello, a defendant in a bankruptcy case.
It is believed the gunman opened fire on the third floor while lawyers fled the scene.
The shooting took place at around 11 am local time.
According to prosecutor Giovanni Canzio, the search continues for the gunman who is reported to still be at large inside the Palace of Justice. 
“We tried to find out what was going on. There were suddenly lots of police officers who told us not to leave the room, they shut us in,” he said.
“After a few minutes we came out. They told us someone in a suit and tie was armed and at large in the court,” he added.
A court official told the Reuters news agency a judge was one of those killed, while the newspaper La Repubblica said a third person was injured.
The building was immediately evacuated while the gunman barricaded himself on the third floor.
The Palace of Justice is centered in the heart of the city, just minutes from Milan’s Cathedral and main shopping district.