Protesters waving Palestinian flags storm Roman Colosseum gates as unrest grows

Key Points:

• Hundreds of protesters stormed the Roman Colosseum and clashed with police during demonstrations in Rome, marking the spread of protests from France to Italy over the weekend.
• Protesters, many young and waving Palestinian flags, chanted inside the historic arena before being pushed out by security forces, with the Colosseum declared a security “red zone” due to recent unrest.
• Alongside the Colosseum clashes, violent confrontations occurred near Piazza della Repubblica, where police used tear gas and water cannons, while in Milan, protesters dumped manure outside the energy regulator and burned a large electricity bill.
• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni deployed about 500 soldiers to Milan to support 5,000 police officers, though the soldiers were only equipped with plastic restraint ties and not pepper spray or Tasers.
• The protests, driven by economic concerns and the war in Gaza, have spread across Europe, with large demonstrations also reported in Spain, Portugal, and Albania.