Italian Police Detain 18 People for Riots During Protests

Italian police conducted a large-scale operation in Turin against activists accused of participating in violent protests from the autumn of 2025. A total of 18 preventive measures were executed, including five house arrest orders. Most of those detained are individuals linked to far-left circles and the Askatasuna social center, which was shut down at the end of last year. The investigation led by the Turin prosecutor's office covers a series of incidents that occurred between September and November of last year during solidarity demonstrations with Palestine.

Among the most spectacular events were the attack on the headquarters of the newspaper "La Stampa" and the vandalism of the historic OGR (Officine Grandi Riparazioni) complex, which serves cultural functions. Another episode involved trespassing onto the tracks at Porta Nuova railway station and blocking train traffic for over an hour. The investigating judge, issuing the orders, stated that „the seriousness of the acts committed by the suspects during the protests makes the danger of even more serious events recurring real, serious, and extremely current” — GIP (Judge for Preliminary Investigations). Italian media emphasize that these actions are part of a broader wave of radicalization among some protesting circles. Far-left and anarchist movements have a long tradition in Italy, dating back to the 1970s and the period known as the "Years of Lead." Contemporary social centers (centri sociali) often function as autonomous enclaves, organizing both cultural life and serving as a base for direct actions. Turin, as a city with strong working-class traditions, has been one of the main hubs of this activity for decades. Among those detained was Vittoria Antonioli Arduini, a student at the prestigious creative writing school Scuola Holden. Her case attracted particular media attention because she publicly expressed remorse before the investigating judge (GIP). In a statement widely quoted by newspapers, she admitted: "I regret it, violence is a bad answer" and declared that she would dedicate time to "become a better person." Surveillance footage shows her during the attack on OGR, using a road sign to strike the fence. Her attitude contrasts with the official stance of some antagonistic circles, which issued statements condemning the detentions as "repression against the struggle for Palestine."

The police operation is another stage in the authorities' response to the escalation of violence during last year's protests. The prosecutor's office initially requested arrest for all 18 suspects, but the judge decided on differentiated measures. In addition to the five house arrests, 12 people were ordered to report daily to the police station, and one person was banned from staying in Turin. Three searches were also conducted during the operation. Italian media report that the investigation is still ongoing, and the analysis of surveillance footage and social media materials may lead to further findings. This topic fits into the broader European discussion about the limits of legal protest and methods of dealing with political violence on the fringes of mass demonstrations. Some media and left-wing circles emphasize the context of solidarity protests with Palestine and see disproportionate repression and criminalization of social movements in the police actions. | Conservative and right-wing media highlight the aspect of fighting anarchist violence, vandalism of public property, and threats to citizen safety, advocating for a decisive state response.