Thousands protest in Italy against high-speed train line

Thousands of protesters marched against a planned high-speed train line in northern Italy yesterday as police turned out in force fearing rioting by militants and hooligans.

Hundreds of women led the peaceful procession from Giaglione to a construction site in the Susa Valley near Turin, wielding wire-cutters aimed at cutting through barriers erected around the controversial site.

But their hopes of doing so were dashed by some 1,700 Italian security forces encircling the site at a wide radius, acting on a threat Saturday by anarchists and other hardcore militants to join the protest.

Organisers instructed the protesters not to provoke the police.

“This demonstration is determined but peaceful,” an organiser told the protesters as their march against the TAV (Treno Alto Velocita — Italian for high-speed train) set off.

“Those with wire cutters will cut the wire and immediately turn their backs on the police officers and leave,” he said, adding: “We don’t want to see helmets, gas masks or blunt instruments.”

“No TAV” organisers originally estimated the crowd at 20,000, though local police said there were no more than 700. An AFP photographer estimated there were up to 3,000 people.

“It’s a useless and expensive project, full stop. I don’t see why the country should shell out so much money and destroy valleys when we are already in a period of crisis!” said Giorgio, a protestor.

Chanting slogans and waving banners, the protesters cut through a first wire fence while police looked on, but were unable to get through a second robust barrier and the protest quietly wound up by mid afternoon.

No clashes were reported between police and protesters.