The European anarchy has set the stage for a particularly disturbing scene in Milan, Italy, as one of Christianity’s most recognizable landmarks became the backdrop for violent unrest.
Flames rose from makeshift barricades, fireworks exploded, and thick smoke filled the square outside Milan Cathedral, the magnificent Gothic church that has stood at the heart of the city for centuries. The violence erupted during a left-wing demonstration that drew more than 5,000 people to Milan. What began as a protest over high prices, low wages, and deteriorating public services descended into clashes between police and groups of masked rioters, some of them clearly North African immigrants.
