Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said
Sunday that a hard line was needed after anarchists rioted in
Turin on Saturday, leaving two police officers injured and
massive damage in the northern city.
A total of 37 people were detained in relation to the
disturbances on Saturday, before being subsequently released,
and hundreds of people who took part have been identified,
including people from Germany and France.
They were protesting in support of Alfredo Cospito, the jailed
leader of the Informal Anarchist Federation (FAI) who has been
on hunger strike since October to protest against the tough 41
bis prison regime usually reserved for mafia bosses that he is
being held under.
The windows and windscreens of many cars, shops and banks were
smashed and graffiti was daubed over the walls of buildings for
stretches of several hundred metres.
Paint was also thrown at the Santuario della Madonna Consolata
(the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of the Consolation), one of
Turin's holiest sites.
"Criminal vandals, so-called anarchists, brought guerilla
warfare to Turin yesterday," Crosetto said via Twitter.
"They destroyed shops, splattered paint over walls, used
violence on people and property.
"You don't negotiate with people like this. They must be
stopped, judged and punished".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
