CHAOS IN TURIN: City center ablaze at leftist protests, dozens of police officers injured

(Patria) - Major riots broke out last night during a leftist protest organized over the closure of a leftist cultural center in Turin, a city in northern Italy.
State television RAI reported that at least 30 police officers were injured in clashes with demonstrators. Ten people have been arrested so far.

According to organizers, 50,000 people took part in the protest march that passed through the city center.

The protests turned into riots. Demonstrators threw stones and Molotov cocktails at police, a police van was set on fire, and a RAI news crew was attacked... Police responded with tear gas and water cannons.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted a disturbing video on her X account showing a police officer lying on the ground being brutally beaten by masked individuals.

La guerriglia urbana a #Torino dopo il corteo contro lo sgombero della sede del centro sociale #Askatasuna. Bombe carta e petardi dei manifestanti contro le forze dell'ordine che hanno risposto con i lacrimogeni. Feriti agenti e manifestanti pic.twitter.com/0xDDYG447H

— Tg2 (@tg2rai) February 1, 2026

- What happened today in Turin, during the protest march against the eviction of the Askatasuna building, is serious and unacceptable.

The legitimate eviction of an illegally occupied building was used as a pretext to unleash violence, arson, throwing Molotov cocktails, and organized attacks, even to the extent that a police armored vehicle was attacked. The images of the attacked police officer speak for themselves: we are not dealing with demonstrators, but with individuals acting as enemies of the state - Meloni wrote.

She added that this is neither dissent nor protest, but violent attacks aimed at assaulting the state and those who represent it, and therefore they must be dealt with without leniency or justification.

RAI described last night's riots as a terrible night of guerrilla warfare, stating that the city center was in flames.