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Clashes broke out between police and protesters in Rome on today's demonstrations, as young people who split off from a march tried to walk toward the prime minister's office and met a police line near Santa Susanna Square. Police used water cannon and, in places, batons after bottles, explosives and fireworks were thrown at officers.

Protests against the high cost of living and the government were also held in Milan, Naples, Bologna and Turin, where brief scuffles were reported. Security had been tightened in many cities after violent unrest the previous weekend.

Rome demonstrations turn tense

Several protests took place in the Italian capital during the day. In the morning, far-right groups demonstrated against the clashes that marred rallies in Milan the previous weekend. In the afternoon, left-wing groups and students held a march against war and imperialism.

The march ended peacefully, but young people who broke away from the procession first encountered security forces near the Colosseum. Tension did not escalate after the students changed their route. The unauthorized march continued around the Colosseum for some time, and one group entered the historic amphitheater and chanted slogans.

After protesting in the city center for hours, the young people tried to walk toward the prime minister's office in the evening and ran into a police cordon near Santa Susanna Square. While talks between police and the demonstrators continued, some protesters threw bottles, explosive devices and fireworks at security forces, and police responded with water cannon and batons in places.

The situation appeared to calm down at one point, but police used water cannon again after demonstrators threw more explosive devices. One protester was seen injured and bleeding from the head after being hit by an object. Realizing the police would not open the road, the demonstrators later changed direction and left the area.

Unrest reported in several cities

Beyond Rome and Milan, protests over the high cost of living and against the government were held in Naples, Bologna and Turin. Scuffles between demonstrators and police were reported at times during the protests in Bologna and Turin.

In Milan, 500 soldiers were deployed in the city center after the unrest the previous weekend, and shop windows were covered with wooden boards. Despite occasional tension between protesters and security forces today, the incidents did not grow into larger violence.

Preventive detentions and Meloni's response

Before the demonstrations in Rome, media reports said security forces had detained 28 people this morning under preventive detention measures.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked the law enforcement officers in a post on the X social media platform. "Even today, despite some violent groups trying to cause clashes and disorder in Italy's squares, I want to thank the law enforcement officers working to ensure citizens' safety and the right to peaceful protest," Meloni wrote.

Key takeaways

• Protesters in Rome clashed with police near Santa Susanna Square while trying to march toward the prime minister's office.
• Police used water cannon and batons after bottles, explosives and fireworks were thrown at officers; one protester was injured.
• Anti-government and cost-of-living protests were held in Milan, Naples, Bologna and Turin, with brief scuffles reported in Bologna and Turin.
• Media reports said 28 people were detained in Rome this morning under preventive measures.