Armored squares: clashes and charges in Rome, Turin, Bologna and Florence

Police clashed with protesters in several major Italian cities on Saturday, resulting in injuries, arrests, and the identification of a suspect linked to online calls for unrest. In Rome, a group of demonstrators breached security barriers to enter the Colosseum archaeological site. In Bologna, police used water cannons and tear gas after protesters threw stones and firecrackers, leaving one young man injured and hospitalized. Tensions also flared in Florence, where riot police blocked a march toward luxury shopping districts, while clashes occurred in Turin near Piazza Castello. Authorities had prepared massive security deployments nationwide following recent violent incidents. The day began with over 150 searches conducted across Milan, Monza, and twenty other cities, primarily in Lombardy. These operations were part of investigations into serious disturbances during the previous weekend. Police identified more than 200 individuals and detained 63 in Rome alone. The searches targeted announcements posted on social media by the October 17 Movement, a group that emerged officially after last weekend’s clashes. Investigators focused on posts that suggested three meeting points would converge into a single large square without prior notice. Youssef Siher, a thirty-year-old second-generation Italian of Moroccan origin, was identified as the author of the movement’s manifesto. Formally resident in the province of Brescia, he was taken to the Milan headquarters for questioning. Searches were also underway at a residence on the outskirts of the Lombard capital. Sources described him as a freelance journalist who collaborates with a national daily and has been active in pro-Palestinian movements. He faces charges of instigation to commit crimes. In Bologna, the situation escalated in Piazza dei Martiri, where police charged against the crowd after bottles were thrown at officers. The force pushed demonstrators back toward Via Marconi. Following reports of stone and firecracker throws, police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. An ambulance arrived at Via Marconi to treat a young protester who was injured during the confrontation. To allow emergency vehicles passage, some demonstrators removed two trash bins, tables, chairs, and rental bicycles that had been arranged as barricades halfway down the street near Largo Caduti del Lavoro. Protesters had organized these barriers using bikes from the Mobike sharing service. Dozens of people sat on the ground with hands raised. The atmosphere remained tense, with separate groups of demonstrators isolated by police trucks lined up along Via Marconi. The Pam supermarket on Via Marconi closed its doors, trapping customers and employees inside while tensions continued outside. Later, the march stopped again at Via Riva di Reno, where protesters split into three groups and police formed lines on three sides. A cordon of citizens, many with hands raised, attempted to stand between the two groups to prevent further violence. In Florence, approximately 2,000 people marched against the government and rising living costs. After reaching Piazza Santo Spirito, the designated endpoint, a portion of the crowd decided to continue toward the city center, specifically aiming for Via Tornabuoni, known for high-end boutiques. Riot police stationed on Ponte Santa Trinita blocked their path. Ten protesters were detained near Santa Maria Novella railway station. Officers found them in possession of balaclavas and firecrackers, items considered useful for concealing identity. Police are verifying the circumstances surrounding these detentions. Rome saw distinct moments of friction. While the main anti-war march moved through the center in the early afternoon, a group of young people broke away from the procession. They forced past blocks and entered the area around the Arch of Constantine within the Colosseum complex, a zone typically crowded with tourists. Security forces responded to the intrusion in this archaeological area. Milan hosted a peaceful demonstration involving more than 10,000 participants. The march started from Largo Cairoli, one week after previous clashes in the city. Near Corso Venezia, the protest merged with a pro-Palestine march originating from Piazza Leonardo da Vinci. During the passage along Corso Venezia, a banner belonging to the League party was burned. In Piazza Repubblica, another individual climbed a light pole to burn a League banner amid applause. Other League banners, displayed for a party congress taking place that day and the next, were defaced in the same square. In Naples, roughly 500 people, including many young adults, marched from Piazza Garibaldi toward Piazza Municipio. The crowd carried few flags, mostly tricolours, alongside signs critical of the government. Several slogans directed at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were chanted. Before the march began, police identified several young men wearing black hoodies. In Castel Volturno, thousands of people gathered, including representatives from the diocese, Caritas, Libera, associations, migrants, and agricultural workers. They planned a march against a proposed 120-place immigration detention centre. Other cities reported varying levels of activity. In Aosta, Piazza Chanoux hosted demonstrations regarding work conditions, fuel prices, salaries, rents, and healthcare. In Genoa, the location initially chosen by the movement, Piazza De Ferrari, was revoked. Given the uncertainty, the prefecture prepared a massive yet flexible security device in case protesters regrouped in multiple locations. In Turin, clashes erupted between police and protesters in Piazza Castello at the entrance to Via Po. In Perugia, about 200 high school students held a peaceful vigil in Piazza IV Novembre regarding school issues and cost of living. Mayor Vittoria Ferdinandi attended the event, which featured student speeches, dances, and songs. Signs bore messages such as "Listen to us, don't ignore us" and "Indifference is the poison of society." Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated from Treviso that authorities had planned everything possible and reinforced security devices not only in Milan but in other cities where initiatives might be announced, with Rome being a primary focus. He asserted readiness to face any manifestation. Elly Schlein, secretary of the Democratic Party, commented on the events upon arriving in Cagliari for the Unity Festival. She emphasized that public order responsibility lies with the national government, which should act in collaboration with local mayors. She argued that the government must ensure police have adequate staffing to perform their duties effectively. Schlein noted that while the government must isolate violent actors, it also bears the fundamental responsibility of guaranteeing the right of others to demonstrate peacefully.