More than 120 police officers, Carabinieri and financial police personnel were injured during No Tav attacks on construction sites in Piedmont’s Susa Valley, where work is under way on the future Turin–Lyon passenger and freight rail link.
The injured included 58 police officers, 48 Carabinieri and 18 members of the Guardia di Finanza.
Four vehicles were also damaged: two belonging to the Carabinieri, one to the financial police and one police car.
Police have so far identified 436 people who took part in the clashes, including some from France, Germany and Belgium. Investigators are now examining their cases from both an administrative and criminal perspective.
A large quantity of pyrotechnic and explosive material was also seized, including Molotov cocktails, gas masks, homemade devices, helmets and balaclavas.
Turin police chief Massimo Gambino described the violence as “an escalation of acts of war”.
“They want to turn the Susa Valley into a European laboratory for urban guerrilla warfare, and we will not allow it,” he said. “We will respond with the utmost firmness, and investigations are under way to identify and stop those responsible.”
An assessment of the damage to the construction sites has meanwhile begun.
“A preliminary estimate for the Chiomonte site alone is around €1 million,” said Telt, the binational company overseeing the project.
“The time required to remove the debris and restore the work areas and tunnel services is still being assessed.”
The consequences could have been even more serious.
“There were also acetylene cylinders that exploded, fortunately only after everyone had managed to move away,” the company said.
“About 10 workers were at the site when the attack began. They were immediately evacuated and taken to safety.”
Damage at Salbertrand, Traduerivi near Susa, and San Didero has yet to be calculated.
The No Tav movement, however, described Saturday online as “a great day of struggle for the Susa Valley”.
“Fifteen years after the experience of the Free Republic of Maddalena and the events of 3 July, the No Tav movement has once again shown that it has the strength to reach the places where the destruction of the territory is taking place every day,” the group said.
In its account of the attacks, the movement described Chiomonte as “what appeared to be one of the most impregnable fortresses in history”.
It spoke of watching “columns of smoke from the paths above”, rising from equipment and structures reduced to rubble, as stones and Molotov cocktails were also thrown at police.
Condemnation of the violence and expressions of support for law enforcement have continued.
“This is nothing but violence. I express my solidarity and gratitude to the women and men in uniform,” said Institutional Reforms Minister Elisabetta Casellati.
Senate Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee chairman Maurizio Gasparri called it “a full-scale terrorist offensive against the police, who have once again suffered dozens of injuries”.
Public Administration Minister Paolo Zangrillo said those involved were “people who follow the logic of subversion and operate according to a form of discipline that is terrorist in nature”.
“Our full solidarity and gratitude go to all the injured officers,” Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said.
“Protesting is a right. Destroying construction sites, attacking men and women in uniform and endangering public safety is a crime.”
Senate President Ignazio La Russa said terrorism had been defeated, “but violence has not”.
“Violence feeds on protection,” he said, adding that extremist groups act when they believe they are not isolated.
Cardinal Roberto Repole, Bishop of Susa and Archbishop of Turin, also joined the chorus of condemnation.
“Acts of guerrilla warfare do not deserve any attempt at understanding,” he said.
“They are pure terrorist violence, which I strongly condemn as both a Christian and a citizen. Violence is incompatible with the Gospel and with democracy. It must be isolated and punished.”
(ANSA)
