Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi
has described as "unacceptable" Wednesday's attack by
anarchists on a police car outside police headquarters in Turin.
Speaking late on Wednesday evening, Piantedosi said he was
"outraged" by the "unacceptable act of violence", which he said
was "symptomatic of the current climate of venom and suspicion
against the forces of law and order and the Police".
"I will do my utmost in every forum to affirm the dignity and
honour of servants of the State who contribute to affirming the
values of freedom and democracy on a daily basis, even at risk
to their own safety," he added.
Piantedosi's comments came after anarchists and members of
leftist social centres attacked a patrol car outside police
headquarters in Turin on Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to
prevent a Moroccan national from being taken to a nearby
pre-removal detention centre for repatriation.
Members of the group of around 50 people kicked and punched the
car and tried to open the doors before police intervened.
The group then moved in a procession towards the nearby 18
December Square, damaging passing cars on the way.
On Wednesday President Sergio Mattarella also called the chief
of police to express solidarity with the officers in the patrol
car that was attacked and to reiterate his confidence in and
closeness to the force.
The police have come under scrutiny after officers baton-charged
pro-Palestinian demonstrators including many students in Pisa,
Florence and Catania last Friday, eliciting a reprimand from
Mattarella.
In Pisa, five protesters were hospitalised as a result of the
violence.
"We are only dealing with isolated cases that are being assessed
and there has never been any change of strategy in a more
restrictive sense in the management of public order," said
Piantedosi at the time, also recalling that "in past years
similar incidents have occurred with even more serious
incidents".
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