Large-scale protests continue to rock Italy, Spain and Albania

Large-scale protests are continuing all across Europe with Italy, Spain and Albania all seeing landmarks and government property overrun or damaged by crowds.

Scores of students and demonstrators have swarmed the Colosseum in Rome while protesters in the Albanian capital of Tirana set a government building on fire.

Hundreds of students and demonstrators stormed the Colosseum in the Italian capital to protest the ongoing war in Gaza and against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government on Saturday night.

Many carried Palestinian flags and were clad in the keffiyeh scarf, chanting "everyone hates the police" in French.　The protest, however, lasted only for a brief duration.

Another protest turned violent in the city as police deployed tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators.

This after similar incidents took place in Milan and Turin last weekend, with protesters venting their frustration over rising living costs, low wages, military spending and government policies. The Italian prime minister has responded to the increased level of violence by deploying an additional 500 soldiers to Milan.

In Barcelona, damaged metal barricades and public transport infrastructure adorned the streets of Spain's second-biggest city after youth-led protests turned violent on Saturday. There were also reports of looting and damaging of shops in the area.

Meanwhile, in the Albanian capital of Tirana, riot police used water cannons against protesters as some were seen hurling Molotov cocktails and set a number of government buildings on fire.

The government noted it deployed 2,500 officers to patrol the streets on Saturday. Albania, ranked among the poorest nations in Europe, is experiencing waves of protests demanding lower tuition fees, greater state investment in education and an end to corruption.

There are also growing calls for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama, who said his government is calling for dialogue with the student movement.