Job protesters climb Rome's Colosseum
Five private security guards have climbed to the top of the Colosseum in Rome to protest at planned layoffs at their company.
Ambulances and a fire brigade crane arrived at the scene this evening as police cordoned off the area. Below the ancient arena, some 50 other security guards backed the protest with cheers.
The protesters unfurled a banner that read “no to job insecurity” and received a megaphone and supplies attached to a rope by their colleagues.
The five threatened to jump if authorities tried to force them down and demanded to meet a government representative.
Their company was recently privatised amid financial difficulties, prompting the layoffs.
Rome’s local government office said the group would be offered a meeting on Monday.
