Turin clashes

Askatasuna, injured policeman discharged. Meloni calls meeting on security. Schlein: 'Don't exploit yourself'

Salvini: security package now

by Rome Editorial Staff

1 February 2026

Torino, corteo pro Askatasuna: la brutale aggressione a un poliziotto

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Twenty-four hours after being attacked, the police officer of the Padua mobile unit - Alessandro Calista - shot during the pro-Askatasuna demonstration on Saturday, 31 January, was discharged from the Molinette hospital in Turin. The prognosis is 20 days.

The arrest of the alleged attacker

A few hours earlier, one of the alleged perpetrators of the attack was arrested. He is a 22-year-old man from the province of Grosseto. The arrest, which was triggered by the mechanism of deferred flagrancy, carries the charge of conspiracy to injure an officer on public order duty during demonstrations.

He was also charged with robbery for the same incident: the group he was part of not only attacked the officer, but also took his shield, U-bot and gas mask. He was also charged because on another occasion, during the same procession, he was seen throwing objects at the police. The 22-year-old was identified through the analysis of some video footage.

The other two arrests

The arrests total three. Two other demonstrators were already arrested on Saturday, the day of the demonstration, for different episodes. Episodes that led to the transfer of 103 injured people (of whom about 20 were among the police) by the Zero Company, through the 118 Operations Centre in Turin.

Meloni's visit, summoning the government

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni travelled to Turin in the morning to meet the officers and soldiers involved in yesterday's clashes. "As far as the government is concerned, I have called a meeting for tomorrow morning (Monday 2 February, ed.) to talk about the threats to public order in recent days and to assess the new regulations of the security decree," Meloni said.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi's briefing on the Turin clashes will be held on Tuesday at 2pm in the House and 4pm in the Senate.

Schlein: 'No to instrumentalisation'

From the opposition, in addition to condemning the episode, PD secretary Elly Schlein called the premier and said that 'the police are an asset of the state, not a partisan issue. This is why we are worried by the instrumentalisation of these hours, so I called the Prime Minister because in these moments the institutions must unite not divide'.

La testa del corteo di Torino
Photogallery15 foto

Salvini: security package now

"The very serious clashes in Turin impose some choices: no tolerance with the violent, immediately the new security package that provides more protection for the police, and above all the obligation of a deposit for those who take to the streets as proposed by the League. Demonstrating is legitimate, smashing up cities and beating up policemen is not!". League leader and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini wrote this on social media.

Cisl's response to Salvini: 'To demonstrate is a right'

The leader of the CISL, Daniela Fumarola, responded to Salvini by condemning 'unambiguously' all forms of violence, but adding that 'one must never confuse those who sow chaos with those who organise demonstrations and democratic mobilisations, exercising a right guaranteed by the constitution, on which no intimidation can burden'.

Police chief to injured officers: thank you for your dedication and professionalism

'Dear colleagues, the public order service, faced and managed yesterday in Turin, in a particularly complex and difficult context, has once again highlighted your dedication in being, with professionalism, balance and risk of your own safety, servants of our democratic State'. This was written in a letter by the Chief of Police, Vittorio Pisani, addressed to the officers injured during the clashes in Turin. 'For this, I will never stop saying thank you,' he added, 'because your commitment, silent and constant, is a guarantee for the protection of our democratic institutions and the security of our communities.

New developments in Askatasuna maxi-trial

And in the meantime, news arrives from Turin on the maxi-trial against some historical activists of the Askatasuna social centre. The Turin public prosecutor's office will support, alongside the ordinary public prosecutor's office, the charge of criminal conspiracy at the appeal trial against them.

The starting date of the session has not yet been set. At first instance, in March 2025, all sixteen defendants were acquitted of this charge. The maxi-trial had originated from a long investigation by the Turin Digos, which also concerned a series of initiatives against the Tav construction sites in the Susa Valley. The prosecutors, in the courtroom, had requested sentences for the 26 defendants totalling approximately 88 years of imprisonment. The judges had imposed 18 (with sentences ranging from four years to nine months in prison) but without recognising the criminal association.