Protesters clash with police at La Scala premiere

8 December 2014, 11:58 | Updated: 8 December 2014, 12:01

Over 300 protestors clashed with Italian police outside Milan's legendary La Scala theatre last night as Daniel Barenboim conducted the opening night of Beethoven's Fidelio.

The anti-austerity protestors gathered to oppose unpopular new policies put forward by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, including new housing laws that have seen many squatters evicted.

Leaflets distributed around the protest area read: "Masters and rulers will be at La Scala to celebrate the riches accumulated at our expense over a year: a display of limousines, Rolexes and fur coats."

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Protestors threw missiles and flares at police, who numbered over 1,000. According to reports, at least two police officers and four protestors were injured. 

 

Inside La Scala, the opening night of the famous opera house's season was getting underway, with Daniel Barenboim conducting Beethoven's opera Fidelio.