Italy deploys 500 soldiers to Milan after violent protests
Plans to send 500 soldiers to Milan after protests over the cost of living escalated into clashes, looting and vandalism. Police detained 271 young people…
Italy’s government says it will send 500 soldiers to Milan after protests over the cost of living escalated into clashes with police, vandalism and looting. The move comes as luxury shops close or remove goods from their windows and authorities prepare for more demonstrations on Saturday.
Police detained 271 young people during unrest on Saturday and Sunday. Officers used tear gas and water cannon to disperse violent groups on the fringes of a protest that had initially been peaceful.
The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also pledged a firm response and is planning tougher security measures, Italian media reported on Tuesday. The measures under consideration include extending preventive detention for minors, cracking down on youth gangs and banning gatherings involving people considered a threat to public order.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said the government would act after Meloni chaired a meeting with senior security officials on Monday. “The government will respond firmly to these attacks on the state, including through measures aimed at curbing violence by minors,” Tajani said.
The deployment and proposed restrictions could affect how police manage gatherings and how young people are treated by the justice system. For businesses in Milan’s fashion district, the unrest has already brought disruption: many luxury stores stayed closed amid fears of further violence.
Several brands, including Chanel, Tiffany and Dior, removed merchandise from their windows as a precaution. Footage also showed ransacked shops belonging to sports retailers Decathlon and Arc’teryx, as well as mobile phone operator Vodafone.
Police said 32 of those detained have been arrested, including 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals. A further 28 people were reported to judicial authorities. These figures refer to separate outcomes among the 271 detentions reported by police.
The Italian press agency Ansa reported that one proposed security measure targets second-generation immigrant youths described by the slang term “maranza,” used for gangs of young people, usually from marginalised areas. The report did not specify the full scope of the proposed measure.
Demonstrations are planned for Saturday after a new movement called 17 October emerged on social media. The group said it would organise protests in Milan and other Italian cities.
Italy is not the only country preparing a security response. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said military forces would also be deployed during protests planned for Saturday, mainly to free police and gendarmes to maintain order. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told parliament the police presence would be “massive.”
In Milan, the immediate concern remains the planned demonstrations and the risk of further damage to shops and public spaces. Police detained 271 young people during the weekend unrest.
Source: theguardian.com
