Columns of black smoke rose over central Rome on Saturday as one of the largest global protests against the financial system turned violent. Helicopters hovered over Piazza San Giovanni as riot police fired tear gas and fought running battles into the night with hundreds of protesters, mostly young, many wearing helmets.
In the worst unrest Rome has seen in decades, rioters tore up cobble stones or threw petrol bombs as the police used baton charges to control the crowd, which numbered several thousand. Protesters chanted “killers, killers” as thunderflashes exploded in the square, buildings were set alight and a police van burnt.
Much of the anger was directed against Silvio Berlusconi, prime minister, and the 316 members of parliament who saved his government from defeat on Friday.