Nearly Thirty Officers Hospitalized After Violent Turin Protest Clash
At least 29 police officers needed emergency medical care following the overnight turmoil, with one officer encircled by attackers who pummeled him with fists, feet, and hammer strikes during the confrontation, media disclosed.
That officer suffered extensive contusions and a gash on his left thigh requiring sutures, according to authorities. He remained under hospital care but was reported in stable condition.
The turmoil ignited as a nationwide rally protesting the December closure of the Askatasuna social center—occupied for close to three decades—reached its conclusion.
Though the procession unfolded without incident initially, masked individuals reportedly splintered from the main crowd once darkness fell and pushed toward police barricades in Turin's Vanchiglia district.
Law enforcement officials reported demonstrators launching bottles, rocks, improvised explosives, and smoke canisters while igniting trash bins and a police armored carrier, weaponizing urban fixtures and torn-down street lamps in their assault.
Authorities deployed tear gas, high-pressure water jets, and baton charges throughout confrontations spanning over 60 minutes.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced what she characterized as "violent attacks aimed at the state and those who represent it," adding: "The images of the attacked officer speak for themselves: we are not dealing with protesters, but with individuals acting as enemies of the state."
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi branded the demonstrators "a danger to democracy," charging segments of the political left with "covering for" violent factions, while asserting the incident vindicated stricter security protocols.
Gendarmerie commander Lt. Gen. Salvatore Luongo characterized the assault as "an attack on the state," declaring that aggression toward police constitutes an assault on civil order and community protection.
The overnight clashes have reignited national discourse surrounding public safety enforcement and demonstration management across Italy.
Prominent governing coalition members, including Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, blamed leftist organizations for enabling violent conduct and demanded expedited detentions, forced evacuations of squatted community hubs, and passage of enhanced security legislation.
Piantedosi revealed the administration intends to examine fresh regulations in coming days, including potentially restoring preemptive custody powers for individuals identified as threats during public gatherings.
Law enforcement tallied roughly 15,000 attendees, though demonstration coordinators asserted participation reached 50,000. The procession attracted grassroots labor organizations, social center advocates from throughout Italy, and prominent personalities.
Officers detained no fewer than two individuals amid the unrest, with additional suspects undergoing police interrogation. Investigative efforts continue to pinpoint participants in the officer beating and broader disorder.
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