Why did a conflict break out in a square in Italy?

On August 24th, local time on Thursday (24th), Italian police clashed with refugees in a Little Square in Rome, and two people were arrested. According to the report, the police asked the refugees to leave the building they occupied. The refugees ignored the request, and then the police used water cannons and batons to expel the refugees. The refugees attacked the police with stones, bottles and pepper spray.

According to the report, this conflict is the latest manifestation of the recent tense atmosphere in Italy due to the influx of refugees. The square is only one block away from the main railway station in Rome, and there are mattresses, trash cans and broken plastic chairs everywhere. The refugees screamed and tried to attack the police wearing riot gear and carrying batons.

It is reported that 800 people were recently expelled from a nearby public building, where they lived illegally for five years. There is a piece of paper hanging on the building, which reads: "We are refugees, not terrorists". The sheets hanging on the window on the first floor were ignited by the residents from the inside, forming a small flame on the sidewalk.

Subsequently, from Saturday (19), about 100 refugees began to occupy Independence Square, most of whom were Eritreans who were granted asylum. The police said they refused the accommodation offered by the city government.

In a statement, the police said that these refugees had gas tanks, some of which had been opened. The police were also attacked by stones, bottles and pepper spray. Two people were arrested in the conflict, 13 refugees were taken to the hospital, and 1 of them suffered a fracture.

It is reported that since 20 14, more than 600,000 immigrants have entered Italy by boat from North Africa, and about 200,000 asylum seekers are currently living in government-run shelters.