Italy Spends Millions on 500 Troops for Milan Ahead of New Protests

The Italian government has deployed 500 soldiers to Milan to secure the city ahead of new demonstrations scheduled for Saturday. The move adds to a series of security measures announced after last weekend’s clashes and looting in the country’s financial capital.

Protesters have planned rallies in eight cities to oppose Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration and rising living costs. The October 17 Movement, a recently formed group, announced the events online alongside student federations and grassroots trade unions.

Police conducted raids and searches in multiple cities on Friday targeting individuals suspected of rioting. Officers carried out an additional 150 searches in the Lombardy region on Saturday morning. According to the daily Corriere della Sera, authorities are questioning a 30-year-old Italian-Moroccan freelance journalist who administers the group’s Instagram page. He faces investigation for inciting crimes.

Organizers are keeping the specific locations of the Saturday rallies secret until the last minute. Three meeting points will be announced on social media accounts during the afternoon. A participant identified as E said on Thursday that the group aims to remain peaceful to avoid giving police a reason to charge.

The scale of the previous unrest was largely driven by young people. Of the 271 individuals detained last Sunday, 220 were under the age of 18. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino, who represents two defendants aged 21 and 15, stated that the younger client saw the protest on TikTok and joined with a friend. He noted the teenager did not participate in looting but did not understand the severity of the situation.

The public prosecutor has attributed the behavior of the young detainees to misleading social media campaigns. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio told Sky TG24 that the nation must expand the capacity of its youth detention facilities to handle the volume of arrests.

In a separate economic disruption, truck drivers established roadblocks in southern Italy earlier this week over high fuel prices. The blockages left several markets without supplies for days. The government responded on Thursday by granting tax breaks and establishing a special fund for farmers and fishermen.