ROME: RIVAL STUDENT FACTIONS BATTLE ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

Record ID: 347378

  • Title: ROME: RIVAL STUDENT FACTIONS BATTLE ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
  • Date: 16th March 1968
  • Summary: CROWD; ARMED STUDENTS PREPARE TO ATTACK; COMMUNIST GROUP WITH FLAGS STORM LAW FACULTY; VIOLENT CLASHES ON STEPS; MAN WITH HEAD WOUND; AMBULANCE AWAY; MISSILES HURLED FROM WINDOWS; BATTLE; INJURED MAN CARRIED AWAY; RIOT POLICE ARRIVE; POLICE VAN; POLICE UP STEPS; POLICE CHASE AND ARREST INJURED; UNCONSCIOUS MAN CARRIED DOWN STEPS; DEBRIS; ARRESTED AND POLICE.
  • Embargoed: 31st March 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA8VB98GYCCHY0VJ278C4VU2Q8O
  • Story Text: POLICE CLOSED THE ROME UNIVERSITY CAMPUS FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A MONTH TODAY (SATURDAY) AFTER A FIERCE BATTLE BETWEEN RIVAL STUDENT GROUPS USING CHAINS, BOTTLES, STICKS AND STONES. ITALIAN STUDENTS HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATING FOR UNIVERSITY REFORMS SINCE LAST AUTUMN, AND HAVE BEEN FURTHER EMBITTERED BY PARLIAMENT'S FAILURE TO PASS A REFORM BILL BEFORE IT WAS DISSOLVED ON MONDAY (11 MARCH) FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS ON MAY 19.

    EYEWITNESSES SAID FISTFIGHTS BROKE OUT WHEN ABOUT 30 RIGHTWING EXTREMISTS ARMED WITH STICKS AND CHAINS TRIED TO INTIMIDATE A BIG GROUP OF COMMUNIST STUDENTS. THE COMMUNISTS CHASED THE RIGHTWING GROUP INTO THE LAW FACULTY, AND BATTLE COMMENCED. BARRICADED INSIDE THE FACULTY, THE STUDENTS RAINED WOOD, DESKS, CHAIRS, TYPEWRITERS, TELEPHONES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THEY COULD GET HOLD OF ON THE ATTACKERS. THE COMMUNISTS RETORTED WITH MISSILES AND STICKS.

    BY THE TIME POLICE ARRIVED, 2000 STRONG, THE FACULTY RESEMBLED A BOMB SIGHT. ABOUT 30 STUDENTS WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL, AND ANOTHER 150 DETAINED BY POLICE. IT WAS THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY SINCE CLASHES AT THE ARCHITECTURAL FACULTY TWO WEEKS AGO IN WHICH 200 WERE HURT AND SEVERAL VEHICLES BURNED AND WRECKED.

    THE VIOLENCE DISRUPTED THE START OF A MEETING OF 5,000 STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER ITALY, INTENDED TO COORDINATE THEIR CAMPAIGN FOR UNIVERSITY REFORM. AND TONIGHT, DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUED IN THE CITY -- AGAIN BY STUDENTS, BUT THIS TIME DIRECTED AGAINST THE U.S. EMBASSY. OF THE 150 PEOPLE DETAINED EARLIER, 50 WERE ARRESTED. NOTABLY, NONE OF THEM WERE STUDENTS AND WERE BELIEVED TO BE AGITATORS BROUGHT IN TO LEAD THE DISTURBANCES.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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