The clashes took place after the march, which started shortly before 11.20 a.m. with about 500 participants, deviated from the established route as protesters tried to penetrate the trade-fair centre.
At this point police in riot gear baton-charged the protesters.
The demonstrators threw smoke bombs and firecrackers and the police responded by firing water cannons.
Four police officers were injured in the clashes, sources said.
“There can be no justification for the scenes we saw this morning,” said Vicenza Mayor Giacomo Possamai.
“The right to demonstrate is sacred and it is protected by the Constitution.
“But those who take to the streets carrying clubs with their faces covered go against the legacy of the founding fathers [of the republic], who wrote that article [of the Constitution] after the darkest years in the history of our country.”
ANSA
