NAPLES, Italy – Riot police moved in Saturday to quell violent protests in Naples sparked by the first major rally in the southern city by the anti-immigrant Northern League leader.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, who tossed bottles, rocks and Molotov cocktails their way.
The protesters were a violent offshoot of an otherwise peaceful march through Naples by people opposed to Matteo Salvini and his anti-euro, anti-immigrant movement.
Get daily National news
A few dozen protesters toting a banner “Naples doesn’t want you” occupied the convention centre on Friday where Salvini was due to speak. The Interior Ministry intervened to make sure the rally could go ahead.
- Iran’s foreign minister leaves without meeting US envoys, Pakistani officials say
- Iran and U.S. dispatch negotiators to Pakistan for new talks after delays
- Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to extend Hezbollah ceasefire for 3 weeks
- Tourist charged after damaging Neptune statue following ‘pre-marital dare’
The Northern League has its base in Italy’s affluent north and has long criticized the tax money Rome funnels to the poorer, less-developed south. But the League in recent years has tried to make inroads in the south, capitalizing on anti-immigrant, populist sentiment and, more recently, poor showings by the Democratic Party.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.