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Bologna Clashes at Virtus–Maccabi Game Trigger Public-Order Showdown

Mayor Matteo Lepore blames Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi for a reckless strategy that overruled the city's plan.

Overview

  • Pro-Palestine demonstrations turned into roughly two hours of street fighting around 20:00 across via Marconi, via Riva Reno and via Lame, with firecrackers, smoke devices, burning bins and damage to cars and shops.
  • Authorities deployed about 500 officers in a designated red zone around PalaDozza to prevent an assault on the arena during the EuroLeague match.
  • Lepore apologized to residents, put public damage at about €100,000 and said he would send the bill to the Interior Ministry, calling the clashes avoidable.
  • Casualty and detention counts differ, with the Questura citing up to 16 injured officers, another official tally listing eight, and Digos reporting 15 people detained.
  • Officials and outlets describe the violence as the work of organized extremist groups exploiting a protest, while police and the city continue investigations and damage assessments.