A crowd of rioters momentarily breached the Colosseum in Rome during a larger wave of protests focused on climbing living costs that have been affecting Italy, France, and beyond.
The group diverged from an authorized march on Via Cavour, making their way to the historic site. They overwhelmed security barriers and turnstiles, entering while tourists were present. Inside, they shouted slogans, held up banners, and waved Palestinian flags alongside other flags from the Middle East.
Security staff eventually removed the group after a short while. Italy’s Ministry of Culture labeled the situation as a brief and unexpected incursion into the Colosseum Archaeological Park, noting that initial evaluations indicated no harm to the structure and no reported injuries from this breach.
The Colosseum incident occurred during protests in several cities, such as Rome, Milan, and Bologna. Participants voiced their frustration over soaring living expenses, government actions from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration, military expenditures, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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Chaos in Rome. Masked rioters storm the Colosseum, forcing the entrance barriers. "Peaceful protest" they say. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/9KROPmUWTe
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) October 24, 2026
While numerous demonstrations remained calm, others turned violent. In Turin and Bologna, protesters hurled objects, leading police to deploy tear gas and water cannons. Later in Rome, law enforcement utilized water cannons after projectiles were thrown near government facilities.
Authorities reported nine arrests nationwide, with 87 individuals referred to judicial authorities, and 371 people were taken in for checks, including minors and foreign nationals.
Nearly 4,300 people were tallied on this day. Milan saw the largest turnout with about 10,000 demonstrators, accompanied by heightened security measures including more soldiers on the ground.
The events on October 24 followed disruptive activities the prior weekend, particularly in Milan where clashes, looting, and property damage unfolded. In response, Meloni’s administration sent additional troops to Milan, ramped up police presence, and enacted stricter penalties for certain offenses during protests, along with increased parental responsibility for damages caused by minors.
This unrest in Italy is part of a larger trend of street demonstrations occurring across Europe in recent weeks. In France, mainly African and Middle Eastern rioters have engaged in looting, arson, and clashes with law enforcement. The protests have tended to intensify over the weekends.
Further demonstrations have erupted in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Albania.
