In Milan, new clashes broke out between anarchists and law enforcement.

New clashes broke out in Milan on Saturday evening between Italian anarchists and law enforcement. reported news channel RaiNews24.

Activists of a number of anarchist organizations staged an unsanctioned demonstration to protest the detention of their partner Alfredo Cospito in a maximum security prison. He is serving a life sentence for organizing a string of extremist actions. On October 20, the detainee began a hunger strike to protest the conditions of his detention, since then his weight has decreased by 45 kilograms. On Thursday, Italian Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio rejected Cospito’s lawyers’ request for a release from detention. On Saturday, local media learned that the anarchist had been transferred from Milan’s Opera prison to the city’s San Paolo hospital, where he was under heavy guard.

Nearly 400 people attending an anarchist demonstration in Milan acted aggressively, notably breaking several shop windows and damaging cars parked on the streets. Police teams tried to stop the unauthorized march and used tear gas. In response, protesters began throwing fireworks, bottles, stones and smoke grenades at law enforcement. According to the Milan questura (police department), 11 people were detained during the clashes. According to media reports, six law enforcement officers were injured during the riots and received medical attention.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said that he would propose to the Italian Council of Ministers “to take drastic measures against these criminals, to close their homes and to close the sites”.

In recent weeks, several anarchist demonstrations in support of Cospito have already taken place in Milan and Rome, resulting in riots and the arrests of some of the participants. Similar actions were held in December in Turin and Bologna, as well as some major cities in Europe and Latin America. Cospito supporters are suspected of committing multiple acts of vandalism against Italian diplomatic institutions, primarily in Athens, Barcelona and Berlin. Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said that such criminal acts and manifestations of violence “will not intimidate the Italian state” during the demonstrations.