After France, Italy has been shaken by protests against the rising cost of living. At least 141 police officers and officials have been injured in clashes with protesters since demonstrations began in several Italian cities on Saturday. The situation worsened on Sunday, when even more protesters took to the streets than the day before, Anadolu reported.
According to the Italian broadcaster Sky TG24, police detained 197 people during Sunday’s protests, 43 of whom have been brought before a court. On Saturday, 28 people were arrested on charges of violence, attacks on police and vandalism of public property; 12 of them are minors.
The movement, under the banner “Italia in Piazza”, is protesting against the cost of living, rising fuel prices and heavy taxes. By police estimates, about 5,000 people protested in Milan over Saturday and Sunday, 3,000 in Turin, 2,000 in Bologna, 600 in Brescia and 800 in Bergamo.
In Milan, some protesters threw stones, bottles and fireworks at police and used barricades. Police fired tear gas and water cannon to bring the situation under control. Several shops in the city centre were vandalised and looted, and a vehicle of the Carabinieri, Italy’s military police, was destroyed.
In Milan, 17 people have been arrested for taking part. Citing the retailers’ association Confcommercio, Sky TG24 reported that two days of violence caused more than 500,000 euros in damage to shops and businesses, about $561,860.
In Turin, police arrested an adult for obstructing officials, and detained three minors for carrying Molotov cocktails, known as petrol bombs.
In Bologna, five minors were arrested over clashes with police near the railway station, where protesters threw bottles, stones and barricades at police. Police used tear gas and water cannon to control the situation.
Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said the reasons behind the protesters’ discontent were understandable, but violence against police and damage to property across the city were in no way acceptable.
Bologna mayor Matteo Lepore also condemned the violence and urged young people to stay away from those using the protests as an excuse to spread violence.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said his party, the League, would again put forward a proposal in parliament requiring organisers of protests considered risky to give financial guarantees against possible damage.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with the security forces and called on opposition parties to clearly condemn the violence committed in the name of protest. At the same time, she noted that thousands of people had protested peacefully.
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