A dozen of parked cars were torched, windows of banks, stores and post offices were smashed and garbage bins were set on fire in a violent anti-Expo protest in Italy's Milan at around 15:30 local time on Friday following the official opening of Expo Milano 2015.
Around 500 protesters with masked faces threw a large quantity of stones, bottles and incendiary objects against police who responded with water cannons and tear gas not far from Duomo Square, the heart of Milan.
The site of clashes has been under control of police at around 18:00 as most people have been evacuated.
The clashes came hours after Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi declared the world exposition officially open at a ceremony held at the exhibition site, located northwest of Milan, in the presence of local authorities.
Days ago Milan had tightened security and seized reinforced clubs, gas masks and pickaxes during searches in a working class neighborhood. Several people, including Italians and other anti-Expo activists mostly of French and German origin, had been taken in for identification.
The Expo Milano 2015, themed "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life," hosts the exhibitions of more than 140 countries and organizations, of which a record number of 54 have their self-built pavilions at the site, and will last till Oct. 31.
The event will feature thousands of performances, concerts, workshops and exhibitions from morning to night with the aim to give a concrete answer to the vital need for mankind to ensure enough healthy food for all while respecting nature. More on: [ Ссылка ]
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