(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 29 - It is dangerous to withdraw
institutional support for the police, Premier Giorgia Meloni
said amid criticism of allegedly heavy-handed policing of a
pro-Palestinian demonstration in Pisa last week that drew a rare
reprimand from President Sergio Mattarella after five students
including two minors ended up in ER.
"I think it is very dangerous to take away the support of the
institutions from those who risk their safety every day to
guarantee ours, it is a game that can become very dangerous",
said Meloni on Tg2, replying to a question on the events in Pisa
and the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have spurred clashes
with police after Hamas' attacks on Israel and the Israeli
response that has so far killed over 30,000 people in Gaza
according to Hamas.
"One cannot talk about the police only when something does not
work", stressed Meloni to the Rai State broadcasting second
channel news.
Mattarella issued an unusual rebuke to police over the Pisa
policing saying that "truncheons fail young people".
Images of some police repeatedly hitting students over the head
shocked many Italians.
Some 19 officers are reportedly being investigated in an
internal police probe into the policing in Pisa. (ANSA).
Dangerous to pull institutional support for police - Meloni
Can't talk about police only when something doesn't work says PM