Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

A demonstrator throws a stone toward police during a protest by the 'Indignant' group against banking and finance in Rome, Italy, Oct. 15. Demonstrators rallied on Saturday around the world to accuse bankers and politicians of wrecking economies, but only in Rome did the global "day of rage" erupt into violence. Galvanized by the Occupy Wall Street movement, the protests began in New Zealand, rippled east to Europe and were expected to return to their starting point in New York.

Protests turn violent in Rome as day of global Occupy protests gets under way

According to msnbc.com staff and news service reports:

Violence broke out in Rome, where Italian police fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters after some smashed shop and bank windows, torched cars and hurled bottles.

TV footage showed police in riot gear charging the protesters and firing water cannons at them. A small group of violent protesters broke away from the main demonstration in the Italian capital, part of worldwide protests against corporate greed and austerity measures.

The ANSA news agency said some protesters trashed offices of the Defense Ministry and of a labor agency, smashing windows with clubs, throwing paper bombs and firecrackers and setting cars on fire.

Most of the violence took place near the Colosseum.

Read more here and see more images from the protests around the world here.

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