Italy faced a night of migrant and far-left rioting on Saturday as protests erupted over the death of Ramy, a 19-year-old Egyptian national who died during a police chase in Milan on Nov. 24.
Footage from the incident appeared to show a police vehicle ramming a scooter being driven by a 22-year-old Tunisian national with Ramy on the back as they attempted to stop the vehicle.
The demonstrations, fueled by allegations of police misconduct, escalated into chaos, with a synagogue in Bologna becoming the target of anti-Semitic vandalism.
The protests, organized by the Italian Anti-Racist Coordination and supported by various activist groups, led to clashes in multiple cities, including Rome, Milan, Brescia, and Bologna. In the capital, Piazza dei Sanniti in the San Lorenzo district became the epicenter of violence, with 400 demonstrators throwing smoke bombs, blunt objects, and paper bombs at law enforcement. A police armored vehicle was damaged, prompting authorities to charge the crowd.
Eighteen law enforcement officers were injured nationwide, with eight requiring hospital treatment. Two demonstrators were arrested for resisting police and using improvised weapons. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi condemned the unrest as an attack on democratic institutions, calling for strong legal action against the perpetrators.
In Bologna, the unrest took an anti-Semitic turn as demonstrators attacked the facade of the synagogue on Via de’ Gombruti. Protesters barricaded the street with construction site fences and launched paper bombs and rockets at the building.
I supporters del delinquente #Ramy a #Bologna hanno assaltato la sinagoga della comunità ebraica felsinea.
VERGOGNA!
pic.twitter.com/TGtWAGuRUK
— Claudio Restani (@Restani_Claudio) January 12, 2025“It was a premeditated attack,” said Daniele De Paz, head of the city’s Jewish community. “They had a precise idea of where to go and what to do.”
The Israeli ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, condemned the attack, stating, “This is a grave anti-Semitic assault. I express solidarity with the Jewish community of Bologna.”
“On behalf of the citizens of Bologna, I demand that those responsible be identified, we have several video recordings,” added the city’s mayor, Matteo Lepore. “The city administration will demand compensation. There are no justified reasons for the devastation of Bologna.”
The protests and synagogue attack have drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the incidents “ignoble acts of disorder,” while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini referred to the protesters as “red criminals” and reaffirmed his support for law enforcement. Mayor Lepore pledged to hold the vandals accountable, citing video evidence and vowing to seek reparations for the damages.
Criminali rossi assaltano le Forze dell’Ordine a Roma e vandalizzano la sinagoga di Bologna. Sono circa diciotto gli agenti rimasti feriti, ai quali va tutta la nostra solidarietà e il nostro sostegno.
Scene indegne e vergognose.
Sempre dalla parte di donne e uomini in divisa! pic.twitter.com/0LEvFiFkX4
— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) January 12, 2025Interior Minister Piantedosi criticized the protests as exploitation of Ramy’s death to incite violence, emphasizing the dangers of organized extremist groups.
The death of Ramy, who was living in Milan’s Corvetto district, sparked outrage among migrant communities, with banners at the protests reading, “Revenge for Ramy, the police kill.” However, the escalation into violent clashes and acts of vandalism, including targeting a religious site, has shifted the narrative to concerns over public safety, organized extremism, and rising anti-Semitism.
