Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was forced to duck for cover during
a talk he was giving at a university after an irate student stood
up, shouted abuse and hurled three eggs at him.
The incident, which was captured on video, took place at
Budapest's Corvinus University on Monday.
Ballmer had just began speaking when a man wearing a white shirt
emblazoned with the hand-painted slogan: "Microsoft = Corruption",
stood up and started shouting at the American visitor.
"Give back the money of the taxpayers!" he yelled, before
launching three eggs at the stunned Microsoft boss.
Ballmer winced defensively as the first egg flew past him,
hitting the whiteboard. He then ducked for cover behind the desk at
the front of the lecture theatre as man - later identified as an IT
student - let fly with two more eggs.
The student, who was sitting in the middle of the room, five
rows from the front, then voluntarily left his seat and was
escorted away.
Ballmer watched in stunned silence, a rare spectacle for a man
who likes to cavort around the stage in a high animated fashion as
he rams home his message.
But the usually unflappable Ballmer quickly regained his
composure.
"It was a friendly disruption," he said, with a grin. "That
broke my train of thought."
The attack is apparently being linked to controversy over
Hungarian Government deals and tenders, which critics say favour
Microsoft and lock out the competition.
At least Ballmer was able to dodge the missiles.
Ten years ago, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates was attacked by two
members of Belgium's notorious "entarteurs" or pie throwers, who
evaded security and mashed four fresh cream tarts into his
face.
-Stephen Hutcheon, The Age