Milan,: Clashes at demonstration for Alfredo Cospito, firecrackers and bottles against police. 11 arrested, 6 cops wounded
milano.corriere.it
«Against 41bis. For a world without prisons, freedom for everyone». This is the banner behind which the anarchist demonstration was held in Milan in solidariety with Alfredo Cospito, imprisoned under a «harsh prison» regime at the San Paolo hospital and on hunger for over three months. In over four hundred – most from Milan, – they set off just after 17.00 from piazza XXIV Maggio in the direction of viale Col di Lana, where the shopkeepers had pulled down the shutters to protect themselves against vandalism. In front, prima fila, with helmets on their heads, a group of demonstrators with a banner tied to plastic panels. At the start, a few water balloons were thrown from the march in the direction of the journalists. In Viale Bligny the first damages: the window of a bank and that of an estate agency were hit.
Paper bomb throwing and police charges.
Tension rose when the demonstration reached Porta Romana. Just before Piazzale Medaglie d’oro the police tried to stop the procession. The anarchists who tried to ‘break through’ the security cordon were repelled with shields and batons. A dense throwing of firecrackers and bottles followed. Then the police tried to channel the march along Viale Sabotino: the two sides came into contact several times. In the most agitated phases tear gas was also used, while the demonstrators threw paper bombs at the police.
The police chase
After the clashes, the anarchists retreated along Via Giulio Romano and Via Vittadini, leaving behind damaged cars and mopeds, overturned bins, smashed shop windows and throwing stones and bottles to keep the police at a distance. The police pursuit continued as far as Viale Gorizia. The officers then pushed the remaining 200 anarchists along Via Ascanio Sforza towards Via Gola. Around 7.30 p.m. the demonstration ended.
Milan, the anarchists’ demonstration disperses along Via Ascanio Sforza
Eleven persons identified and six officers injured
Eleven people were taken to the police station for identification, while there were six officers with bruises after the clashes. The State Police, the Carabinieri, the Guardia di Finanza and the local police took part in the security measures.
The damage count
The passage of the anarchists left their mark in the city, especially in the neighbourhoods between the Navigli and Porta Romana. In addition to vandalised shop windows and walls covered with graffiti, several cars were damaged along the procession route, including two Enjoy vehicles, a car and a van, and some private cars.