A group of violent protesters used street signs, trash bins, and barriers on Monday to break the windows and doors of the central train station in Milan. What started as a peaceful demonstration turned into a violent clash with law enforcement, leaving bewildered travelers caught in the middle.
The pro-Palestinian demonstration in Milan, which gathered over 10,000 people in the streets, ended with clashes and tensions inside and outside the Central Station, as reported by Corriere della Sera.
Passengers Caught in the Trap
After hours of protests, students, teachers, families, and activists gathered on Monday in the main hall of the station. Here, the situation spiraled out of control, leading many demonstrators to leave the area as the protest escalated.
Violent acts erupted when a group of protesters dressed in black tried to enter the station. The entrance was immediately closed by the police with a tight security cordon. This was followed by scuffles, smoke bomb attacks, stone throwing, and clashes. A group of violent protesters used street signs, trash bins, and metal barriers to break the windows and doors of the station.
The police responded immediately, forcing the protesters to retreat. Hundreds of young people initially tried to enter from the metro station but were blocked on the escalators by police officers using rubber batons. Numerous smoke bombs were thrown, and a few protesters threw objects and metal fences at the law enforcement. The police pushed them back and then closed the access gates to the station.
However, the closed gates turned the station into a temporary trap: passengers and tourists in transit were left stranded, with suitcases in hand, unsure whether to leave or wait there.
Tear gas filled the station, forcing dozens of people to seek refuge in the interior cafes or cover their faces with scarves and shirts. A young woman was treated for a head injury, as reported by the cited newspaper.
Chaos at the Station
Protesters attempted to reach the platforms to block rail traffic, as it happened in Naples. They used trash bins as barricades and threw objects, including bottles and canisters. They also used the station's water cannons to attack the police.
A formation of carabinieri intervened, while thick smoke from the smoke bombs filled the area. The demonstrators burned an American flag, as reported by AFP.
Tensions erupted just a few hours after a demonstration that, until then, had seen orderly participation from students and teachers waving anti-war flags and signs.
The presence of police outside kept the crowd away from the train entrances, while the trains were delayed, leaving hundreds of passengers in uncertainty. Trains scheduled to depart remained stuck, while transit trains bypassed the Central station for over an hour.
Clashes continued in the nearby area as well. Hundreds of protesters threw firecrackers, stones, bottles, and cobblestones at the police, who responded with tear gas. Road traffic to the station was blocked, and all merchants pulled down their shutters.
According to a provisional assessment, dozens of assailants have been identified.
"Today's vandalism, caused by violent fringe groups, is unjustified and certainly does not help the Gaza cause," commented the Mayor of Milan, Beppe Sala, on the events in the city. "In recent weeks, Milan has witnessed a series of large-scale demonstrations in defense of the Palestinian cause, always peaceful," he added.
"Let's Block Everything," Italian Version
A general strike is taking place on Monday in around 70 cities in Italy, with tens of thousands of people protesting across the country denouncing the "genocide in Gaza" and urging the government in Rome to sever all ties with the State of Israel.
The day of action, titled "Blocchiamo Tutto" ("Let's Block Everything"), was launched by the Unione Sindacale di Base (Basic Union). Workers from various sectors, from railways to local public transport and school and university staff, went on strike in different ways.
The demonstrations come on the day when France and a few other countries are set to officially recognize the state of Palestine at the UN, following the footsteps of the UK, Australia, and Canada who did so on Sunday. However, Italy, very cautious on this issue, is not yet willing to join this decision, as reported by Agerpres.
Trains and Ports Blocked
In Rome, according to the prefecture, over 20,000 people, including numerous high school students, gathered in front of Termini station, waving Palestinian flags and shouting "Free Palestine!" "Against genocide, let's block everything!" read a huge banner.
Over 10,000 people were present at the protest in Bologna, according to the prefecture.
Other demonstrations took place in Turin, Florence, Naples, Bari, Palermo, and other cities.
In Genoa and Livorno, the docks at the ports were blocked by employees, according to Italian news agencies.
The strikes also affected the railway sector, especially on routes to Rome, where delays and cancellations were recorded.
In Rome, bus and metro services were disrupted, as reported by AFP.
Italians Call for an End to the War in Gaza
The Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini, downplayed the impact of the protests, labeling them as an action by far-left unions.
The ultraconservative government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, ideologically close to US President Donald Trump, adopts a very cautious stance on the Gaza conflict, even though the government head has repeatedly expressed "concern" about the Israeli offensive.
Rome is currently hesitant to "temporarily" recognize Palestine and is reluctant to accept the EU's proposed trade sanctions against Israel.
According to a recent survey by the Only Numbers institute, 63.8% of Italians consider the humanitarian situation in Gaza "extremely serious," and 40.6% wish for the recognition of a Palestinian state.