Italy sends 500 troops to Milan ahead of new protests
Authorities raided homes of suspected looters while officials debated youth detention capacity following a week of unrest.
By Natalia Costa ·
Italy is deploying 500 soldiers to Milan on Saturday as fresh protests are scheduled in eight cities against the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The demonstrations target the rising cost of living and what organizers call authoritarian rule. The October 17 Movement, a recently formed group, announced the rallies online alongside student federations, grassroots trade unions, and antiwar coalitions. The group stated on Instagram that they distrust the government because it views itself as authoritarian. They described those who deny their future as truly violent.
The new round of protests follows a turbulent week in Milan where clashes and looting erupted. The government responded by ordering the deployment of troops to the financial hub. Police conducted raids and searches in several cities on Friday to target suspects. Adnkronos reported that officers performed an additional 150 raids on Saturday morning in the Lombardy region. Organizers kept the specific meeting points secret until the last minute, with three locations set to appear on social media on Saturday afternoon.
Police told Al Jazeera they are questioning the administrator of the movement's Instagram page. Corriere della Sera identified him as a 30-year-old Italian-Moroccan freelance journalist and researcher. He faces an investigation for suspicion of inciting crimes. The movement insisted on social media that participants intend to dissent peacefully. A participant identified as E said they must avoid giving police an excuse to charge. Another member, Q, rejected the distinction between violent and peaceful protesters, stating it is just us.
Arrests from last Sunday highlighted the youth of the crowd. Of the 271 people detained, 220 were under the age of 18. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino, who defends a 21-year-old and a 15-year-old, said the teenager learned about the protest on TikTok. He added that the minor did not grasp the seriousness of the situation and was not among the looters. Corriere della Sera reported that some minors joined after being unexpectedly added to a Telegram group. One detainee said the group promised chaos and goods.
The public prosecutor blamed social media for misleading young people into insurrectional acts. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio told Sky TG24 that Italy needs to expand the capacity of youth detention facilities. The mass arrests of minors have driven this policy discussion. Separately, truck drivers in southern Italy set up roadblocks earlier this week to protest soaring fuel prices. The blockades left markets without supplies for days. On Thursday, the government granted tax breaks and created a special fund for farmers and fishermen to ease the pressure.
