Rome, Italy – More than 60 police officers were injured in violent clashes that erupted on Saturday with opponents of the Turin-Leone high-speed rail line in northern Italy, according to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. The newspaper reported that some 20,000 protesters participated in a rally organized by the “No to High-Speed Trains” movement, gathering to demonstrate against the controversial rail project. Shortly after the rally began, the participants dispersed and began attacking several tunnel construction sites, with the most intense violence and direct confrontations occurring in the Cumonte area.
The newspaper added that the protesters managed to breach the security perimeters and enter the construction sites, where they began widespread acts of vandalism. The demonstrators used stones, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails, and also set fire to four police vehicles, creating a tense atmosphere on the ground.
Security reactions and suspension of transportation
According to the Italian newspaper, security forces used water cannons and tear gas to control the crowds, but these measures alone were insufficient to contain the situation, as the protesters were well-equipped and spread panic at the targeted locations. Due to the severity of the disturbances and the resulting damage, authorities were forced to temporarily suspend train service between Possolino and Borgoni, as well as close a vital section of the highway to ensure public safety and prevent the crisis from escalating.
Background of the “Torino-Lyon” project
The high-speed rail project linking the French city of Lyon and the Italian city of Turin is one of the major projects supported by the European Union. This massive engineering project includes the construction of a unique 57.5-kilometer tunnel through the Alps mountain range, and its total cost is estimated at more than 26 billion euros, making it vulnerable to ongoing protests from opposition movements demanding its suspension for environmental and economic reasons.
