Written by: Fatima Younis
The Italian city of Milan witnessed violent clashes between protesters and police forces during a protest march against the high cost of living and the deterioration of public healthcare services, resulting in injuries among participants.
Events and confrontations in the streets of Milan
Protesters threw stones and fireworks at security forces, leading to damage to a number of vehicles. In response, police forces used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the gatherings, prompting stores in the area to close their doors, and the central Duomo metro station was also closed during the period of unrest.
Official Italian reactions
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the acts of violence and vandalism witnessed in Milan and several other cities such as Bologna and Turin. Tajani emphasized via the X platform the sanctity of the right to demonstrate and citizens' freedom, while stressing at the same time everyone's right to safety and the right of law enforcement agencies to protect themselves from attacks, expressing his full solidarity with the police forces.
