Police begin clearing gypsy camp in Rome against EU ruling

Italian police have begun clearing a shanty camp inhabited by members of the minority Roma community, despite a European Union court ruling halting demolition.

Italian TV images showed dozens of people, including children, outside the camp in Rome, with mattresses and other belongings piled alongside vehicles.

Rome’s mayor discussed the operation Tuesday with Italy‘s new hard-line interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who drew protests with his earlier calls for a census of Roma.

A volunteer put the number of people remaining inside the camp after attempts to relocate them at about 370.

The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday asked the Italian capital to suspend action until Friday and outline plans to rehouse the community.