In the northern Italian city of Torino (Turin), the capital of Piemonte (Piedmont), horrific rioting broke out Sunday evening. The riot was in response to the closure of a "social center" in Turin, named Askatasuna, which is a Basque word meaning "liberty". There are several social centers in Italian cities, which have largely evolved into centers for radical left ideology, including Antifa, and the pro-Palestinian movement.
In the rioting, some 100 police officers were injured, including at least two who had to be hospitalized. One of them was seen on video being surrounded by several rioters and beaten with a hammer. Fortunately and miraculously, his condition is not serious. As of now, 24 people are in custody and efforts on underway to identify others.
Italian government officials are describing the riot as an act of guerrilla warfare against the state. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traveled to Turin to visit the injured officers and to condemn the violence.
The below article from Il Giornale is translated by Fousesquawk. Meanwhile, we are working to add English subtitles to an Italian news video from another source.
Askatasuna, the toll of the guerrilla activity: About 100 police officers were injured. One of the attackers of the surrounded police officer is arrested. This is who he is.
The review of the surveillance cameras is still in progress to identify other subjects who took part in the (anti-government) violence
Francesca Galici, February 1, 2026, at 16:36
What was seen last evening in Turin is extremely serious: The demonstration organized in support of Askatasuna has assumed levels of violence that had never been seen in our country, confirming that the escalation by the perpetrators is not only still ongoing, but has not yet reached its peak. The final official toll is around 100 members of law enforcement who were injured, in various levels of seriousness, including Alessandro Calista, officer of the Mobile Squad of Padua, who was surrounded, beaten, and struck with a hammer. Fortunately, he managed to avoid being hit in the head, having lost his helmet, and his current condition is not serious.
In total, there were 3 arrests for what occurred last night: Digos (General Investigations and Special Operations Division) of the Questura (police hqs) in Turin, arrested (2) Italian men, ages 31 and 35, in the act, charging them with acts of resistance and violence against public officials. A 22-year-old Tuscan was arrested for involvement in personal injuries against a public official on public service duty during the demonstration. He was identified through analysis of some videos, among the members of the group responsible for the violent attack on the Padua officer. He was also charged for violence against a public official for the same incidents, having being photographed on another occasion as he was throwing blunt objects at law enforcement, in addition to being involved in robbery, and being part of a group that, aside from inflicting injuries on a police officer, also took his badge, his U-boat (police watch) and his gas mask.
In the course of the violence, the officers managed to arrest 24 persons in all, who were taken to the Turin police hqs, where they were completely identified and charged with various levels of resistance to police, possession of unauthorized weapons, wearing disguises, and failure to comply with police commands. Materials of various types were seized, including objects of disguise and objects used for attacks, such as stones (contained in backpacks), wrenches, slingshots, and knives.
