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Shocking footage shows a man appearing to throw a gas cylinder from the balcony at police and crowds. Tension arose at dawn when police arrived in Piazza Indipendenza, Rome to empty a building that had been allegedly illegally occupied. During the operation, officers were met with violent resistance from the migrants.

LA REPUBBLICA Italian police clashed with migrants in Rome

Stones were thrown at them and a short street fight ensued. Two people were arrested. Police were forced to use fire hydrants to avoid fires and flammable liquids being set on fire. The Rome Police headquarters clarified that the intervention had become necessary after the group of migrants refused to leave the building.

EPA The police operation led to a violent clash in the streets of Rome

EPA Police had to use fire hydrants to stop protesters from lighting up fires

This year more than 58,000 migrants have arrived in Italy and 1,569 have died Thu, June 29, 2017 An estimated 230,000 refugees and migrants will arrive in Italy this year as numbers of refugees and migrants attempting the dangerous central mediterranean crossing from Libya to Italy continues to rise since the same time last year Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 11 Refugees and migrants wait in a small rubber boat to be rescued off Lampedusa, Italy

GETTY Police say they were forced to intervene because of dangerous fire devices reported in the building