Paramilitary Carabinieri intervened in Venaus 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Turin to remove the protesters from the site where geological probes were to be carried out for the TGV line through the Val di Susa.

Protest leader Alberto Perino was quoted as saying: "There are at least six injured, two of whom were taken out by ambulance. We're mobilizing people so that they'll come and help us."

The site was chosen to cut a 53-kilometre (33-mile) cross-border train tunnel into France, arousing the anger of people living in the region who question the usefulness, cost and environmental consequences of the project.

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