500 Soldiers: Italy Reinforces Security Ahead of New National Protests
Italian authorities are deploying a significant military presence to Milan and other cities as activists plan demonstrations against the cost of living and government policies.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
Five hundred soldiers are now on standby in Milan as Italy prepares for a new wave of nationwide demonstrations.
The deployment was announced by the government following a volatile weekend of unrest. This new round of protests is scheduled for Saturday across eight cities. Participants are primarily targeting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration and the escalating cost of living. The demonstrations come just seven days after a protest in Milan turned into a confrontation with police that included looting.
A newly formed collective known as the October 17 Movement has organized the upcoming events. It is working alongside student groups, grassroots unions, and antiwar coalitions. The group posted on Instagram that they distrust the current government, which they view as authoritarian. They also argued that those who deny the future of young people are themselves violent.
In addition to the military deployment, police conducted raids in multiple cities on Friday. These actions targeted individuals suspected of participating in the recent riots. Adnkronos reported that officers carried out 150 further searches in the Lombardy region on Saturday morning. The movement has emphasized that many attendees intend to protest peacefully. A participant identified as E warned that giving police an excuse would invite a charge. Another member, Q, noted that there is no real distinction between violent and peaceful protesters, describing the group as just us.
Organizers have kept the specific meeting locations secret until the last minute. Three sites were expected to be revealed on social media on Saturday afternoon. Police told Al Jazeera that they have located and are questioning the administrator of the group's Instagram page. The Corriere della Sera identified him as a 30-year-old Italian-Moroccan freelance journalist and researcher. He is currently under investigation for suspected incitement to crime.
The issue of youth involvement has dominated the aftermath of the previous weekend's arrests. Of the 271 people detained, 220 were under the age of 18. Some minors reported being added to communication groups unexpectedly. One detainee said they were told chaos would be raised and goods could be taken. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino, who is defending a 21-year-old and a 15-year-old, noted that the teenager did not understand the protest's reasons. He had simply seen it on TikTok and wanted to check it out with a friend. The prosecutor has blamed social media for misleading young people into insurrectional acts. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio stated that the country must expand the capacity of its youth detention facilities.
Meanwhile, economic pressures continue to drive dissent in other sectors. Truck drivers established roadblocks in southern Italy earlier this week to protest high fuel prices. These blockades left several markets without supplies for days. On Thursday, the government attempted to ease the strain by offering tax breaks and creating a special fund for farmers and fishermen.
