European protests erupt (Photos)

Greek former conservative minister Costis Hatzidakis is attacked by leftist protesters. (Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images)

Across Europe, protests broke out Tuesday and Wednesday in response to austerity measures, the teetering government in Italy and alleged violence during student protests in London.

Greece: Some 40,000 people protested against austerity measures in Athens and a 24-hour strike crippled the transportation system throughout Greece. Read about the protests here.

A protester throws a rock at police. (Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)

Supporters of Greece's Communist Party march in central Athens. (Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)

Italy: Italy erupted in protests after Silvio Berlusconi scraped together enough votes to retain hold on parliamentary power. Read about it here.

Demonstrators hurl cobblestones at police in Rome. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

A Guardia di Finanza vehicle burns near the Italian parliament. (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

A police officer fires tear gas during clashes in Rome. (Pier Paolo Cito/AP)

Protests in Rome. (Pier Paolo Cito/AP)

London: After a student protester complained that he had been thrown from his wheelchair by police during last week's demonstrations in London, new protests took place at Scotland Yard. Read more about it here.

Students and workers, some wearing bandages with fake blood depicting injuries, form a symbolic human chain as they protest against what they call police brutality and violence. (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)

Spain: People protest against the austerity plans undertaken by the European Union in front of 'Generalitat de Catalunya' Palace in Barcelona. Read more about it here.

People protest in front of 'Generalitat de Catalunya' Palace in Barcelona. (Albert Gea/Reuters)

A union activist shouts slogans in Madrid. (Victor R. Caivano/AP)

(H/t to Alex Balk!)