Thousands of people took to the streets across Italy on Friday to protest increased military spending and the rising cost of living, while demanding higher minimum wages and stronger public services.

Friday’s demonstrations in Italy followed similar protests across Europe, including France, Spain, Serbia, Belgium and Albania, where rallies demanding improved living standards turned violent, leading to the arrest of thousands of demonstrators.

According to reports, the protests in Italy were largely peaceful, but police officers deployed water cannons against students and left-wing activists who were trying to breach security cordons protecting the prefecture building in Turin.

Meanwhile, another demonstration in Rome was reported to be taking place near the Colosseum, where protesters said they planned to set up tents and remain throughout the weekend.

The grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base (Italy’s trade union) had called a 24-hour general strike, with protests planned in more than 40 cities.

Protesters in Milan moved their belongings onto the city’s ring road before ending the march in front of the Politecnico di Milano university, while an estimated 15,000 port workers joined students and other demonstrators in Genoa.