Italy sends 500 soldiers to Milan as protests return to eight cities

Italian residents can expect a heavier police presence and a larger military footprint in Milan this weekend. The government has deployed 500 soldiers to the city to secure streets ahead of new demonstrations. These protests are scheduled for Saturday in eight cities across the country. They target Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration and the high cost of daily goods.

The unrest follows a chaotic weekend in Milan where clashes turned into looting. In response, authorities announced new security protocols. On Friday, police executed raids and searches in multiple cities to find suspects involved in the previous disturbances. Adnkronos reported that officers carried out an additional 150 raids on Saturday morning in the Lombardy region.

A group named the October 17 Movement coordinated the new round of protests. The coalition includes student federations, grassroots unions, and antiwar groups. The movement announced the events on social media. They described the government as authoritarian and accused it of denying the future of young Italians.

Organizers have kept the specific locations of the demonstrations hidden to prevent police from staging in advance. Three meeting points will be posted on social media accounts on Saturday afternoon. The movement emphasized a desire for peaceful dissent. One participant, identified as E, warned that police would charge if protesters gave them an excuse.

Police are actively investigating the digital footprint of the organizers. Officers located and are questioning the administrator of the group's Instagram page. The Corriere della Sera identified him as a 30-year-old freelance journalist and researcher of Italian-Moroccan descent. He faces investigation for suspicion of inciting crimes.

The previous wave of arrests resulted in the detention of 271 people. Of those, 220 were under the age of 18. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino is representing two of the detained demonstrators. He stated that one 15-year-old client learned about the protest through TikTok and did not fully understand the situation. The public prosecutor blamed social media for driving young people to what he called insurrectional acts.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio addressed the issue of minors in the justice system. He told Sky TG24 that Italy needs to expand the capacity of youth detention facilities. Separately, truck drivers in southern Italy blocked roads earlier this week to protest fuel costs. The government responded on Thursday with tax breaks and a new fund for farmers and fishermen.