Full Breakdown
Violent Cost-of-Living Protests Sweep Milan, Bologna and Other Italian Cities
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The Unfolding Unrest
On a Saturday in mid-October 2026, demonstrations against high living costs and stagnant wages turned violent in Milan’s central Piazza Duomo and spread to Bologna, Turin and Bergamo. Black-clad youths threw fireworks, stones and paving blocks at police, erected barricades of bar tables and set fires. Police initially withdrew, then deployed tear-gas and water-cannon to clear the square. Roughly 50 demonstrators were detained, about half of them minors, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.
Drivers of the Demonstrations
Organisers, including the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), cited soaring fuel prices, a shortage of affordable housing and real-wage stagnation as the core grievances. In Rome, thousands gathered for a CGIL-led rally, and the union announced a nationwide general strike scheduled for November 20.
Police Response and Casualties
Reports differ on the number of injured officers: ANSA cited at least four police officers wounded in Milan, while LaPresse referenced at least two. Demonstrators’ injuries were reported at 20 in Milan. Bologna’s police used water-cannon and made seven arrests, all minors, with seven individuals later referred to prosecutors. In Milan, about 50 people were detained, many under the age of 18.
Official Reactions
Milan’s centre-left mayor Giuseppe Sala acknowledged the legitimacy of the economic grievances but said the violence against law-enforcement and damage to the city could not be justified.
Upcoming Action
The CGIL-called general strike on November 20 signals that the unrest may intensify, as workers across sectors prepare to halt activity in protest of the cost-of-living crisis.