Italy sends 500 soldiers to Milan after weekend riots and looting
Rome ordered extra troops to Milan after two nights of clashes and looting left more than 270 people detained, most of them minors.
Italy's government is sending 500 additional soldiers to Milan after two nights of rioting and looting left shops wrecked in the city centre, deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday.
The decision followed a government crisis meeting chaired by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday evening, and is due to be formally approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Reuters reported via Polsat News. "From words to action: another 500 soldiers to defend Milan," Salvini wrote on social media.
More than 270 people were detained after clashes at the weekend, most of them minors, Croatian outlet 24sata reported. The unrest began on Saturday as a peaceful demonstration against the rising cost of living, but masked, mostly young protesters later ripped out road signs, set fire to bins and clashed with police, according to Polsat News. Reuters reported that most shops in the upmarket Via Montenapoleone shopping district were looted.
At least 14 security personnel were injured, German news agency dpa reported. Prosecutors in Milan described the violence as being of "rare" severity, dpa added. The damage is estimated to run into the millions of euros, though no official figure has been given.
The extra troops will have police powers, including the ability to make arrests, Polsat News reported, citing Italy's defence ministry. A government decree is also expected to allow the preventive detention of suspects, including minors, for 24 hours where there is reasonable suspicion their behaviour poses a real threat to public safety, Polish broadcaster Polsat News reported, citing La Repubblica.
Meloni said on Saturday that those behind the violence were thugs exploiting the demonstrations to cause chaos, attack those guaranteeing safety and hold entire cities hostage. "Demonstrating is a right. Destroying our cities is not," she wrote on X, according to ERT News.
Some luxury shops in Milan have remained closed this week or removed their window displays and tightened security, ERT News reported. New protests are expected on Saturday, and authorities are also considering wider curbs on public gatherings and tougher penalties for the parents of minors involved, ERT News added.
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What we know
- Italy is sending 500 extra soldiers to Milan after two nights of rioting and looting, deputy PM Matteo Salvini said.
- More than 270 people were detained, most of them minors, Croatian outlet 24sata reported.
- At least 14 security personnel were injured, dpa reported.
- The extra troops will have police powers, including powers of arrest, according to Polsat News.
- Some shops in Milan's luxury shopping district were looted; several remain closed or have tightened security.
Not yet confirmed
- The total cost of the damage has not been officially confirmed; estimates put it in the millions of euros.
Why it matters for Europe
The deployment adds to Italy's existing Strade Sicure military support operation for police, running since 2008, and comes as several European governments watch unrest in France closely. Milan's unrest follows a wave of protests across Italy against the rising cost of living, a theme likely to dominate Italy's parliamentary election next year.
Sources
Reported by 8 reports from 8 independent outlets in 6 countries.
- Polsat News: Zamieszki w Mediolanie. Rząd ściąga wojsko na ulice miasta
- Il Fatto Quotidiano: Scontri a Milano, Cacciari a La7: “Finiamola di fare le anime belle, ci sono milioni di giovani esasperati. La protesta è fisiologica”
- Il Fatto Quotidiano: “Intrappolato in mezzo al saccheggio di Milano con mio figlio di 5 anni mentre andavamo alla messa per papà Philippe Daverio. C’era un’eccitazione collettiva, oltre a provocare il caos pensavano a immortalarlo”
- Postimees: Itaalia saadab järjekordse rüüstamise hirmus Milano tänavatele 500 sõdurit
- ERT News: Ιταλία: 500 στρατιώτες στο Μιλάνο μετά τις λεηλασίες και τις βίαιες συγκρούσεις – Συνεδριάζει το υπουργικό συμβούλιο
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Why is Italy sending soldiers to Milan?
- After two nights of rioting and looting during cost-of-living protests, the government is deploying 500 extra troops with police powers to help secure the city.
- How many people have been detained?
- More than 270 people were detained after the weekend's clashes, most of them minors, according to Croatian outlet 24sata.
- Were there any injuries?
- At least 14 security personnel were injured, German news agency dpa reported.
This article was written with AI assistance from 9 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.