A riot broke out at Milan Central Station during a march in support of Gaza. A group of young people dressed in black attempted to enter the metro station, where they clashed with police. The station entrance was severely damaged, and trains did not stop at the station for more than an hour.
Several injuries have been reported, while emergency personnel have assisted about 12 people, aged between 23 and 54, who were involved in clashes during the protest. So far, there are no reports of injuries among the police.
The demonstrators also used fire extinguishers and set up garbage cans as barricades, throwing bottles, cans and other objects at the police. In their attempt to enter the station, they were blocked on the escalators, where the police used batons to remove them. Smoke grenades were thrown and several crowd-dispersal operations were carried out. With the help of scaffolding, the demonstrators broke the windows of the main entrance of the station.
The police managed to get them out of the station, but the demonstrators continued to throw umbrellas, sticks, and barriers at the police on Vittor Pisani Street.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala:
"Today's vandalism by violent groups is not justified and does not help the Palestinian cause. In recent weeks, massive pro-Palestine protests have been held in Milan, always peacefully," he said.
The march began in the morning under heavy rain, with thousands of participants in the national strike in support of Gaza. Students and pro-Palestinian groups gathered in Largo Cairoli and joined the march that started from Piazzale Cadorna towards the Central Station. Banners read messages such as “We will block everything, stop the genocide.” The protest was attended by public transport workers, teachers and academic staff.
When the march reached Piazza della Repubblica, near the US consulate, organizers chanted: “We are approaching the US consulate, complicit in this crisis,” and chants of “murderers, murderers” were heard. Demonstrators burned flags of the US, Israel, NATO and the European Union. In Cadorna, some demonstrators took action by occupying the headquarters of the Enel company, climbing scaffolding and cutting a curtain.
Strikes and delays in public transport
A strike on public transport began at 8:45: metro line 4 was closed until 1:00 p.m., while a second strike is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Due to the strike called by the Base Trade Union, trains in Milan were canceled or delayed by up to 2 hours, creating difficulties at the Porta Garibaldi and Rogoredo stations.
Ambra Angiolini:
Actress and presenter Ambra Angiolini also participated in the march, along with her daughter. She said: “What is happening is unacceptable from every perspective. In Gaza, there is no longer war, there is no longer politics. We are people, my daughter and my friends are people. The inhumanity of this land is terrible. Children are not to blame; they are innocent and do what we adults tell them.”
