Hundreds of left wing activists gathered at the town on Brenner to protest plans to strengthen the Austrian border to prevent another huge influx of migrants this summer.
Far-left activists, believed to have travelled from across the continent, waved red flags and clashed with police on both sides of the border, as both Austria and Italy had to deploy security forces to maintain order.
A graffiti tag reads “Welcome” on a road sign for the Republic of Austria (GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)
Austrian police stand on a slope near the Brenner border as “No border” activists clash with Italian police (GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)