Full Breakdown
Italy Deploys Hundreds of Soldiers Amid Youth-Led Cost-of-Living Protests
By Drooid · · How we work
Surge of Unrest in Milan
On October 17 and October 18, violent clashes erupted in Milan’s historic centre. Groups of mainly young people smashed shop windows, looted luxury boutiques and attacked police with stones and makeshift weapons. Police described the participants as “very young protesters,” many of them second-generation Italians and foreign nationals. Authorities said roughly 2,000 youths were involved, and at least two police officers were injured.
Government’s Security and Legal Response
The Meloni government approved a security decree on October 20 ordering the deployment of an additional 500 soldiers to Milan to patrol key sites until the end of 2026. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the troops will operate alongside about 5,000 police and Carabinieri, using drones, helicopter surveillance and rapid-response units. The decree also expands parental financial liability for damage caused by minors and permits administrative detention of youths aged 14-17 even without a crime.
Data & Statistics
- 500 additional soldiers deployed to Milan.
- 5,000 police and law-enforcement personnel operating in the city.
- 2,000 youths reported to have taken part in the October 17-18 unrest.
- Arrest figures differ: Al Jazeera cited 271 arrests, with 220 under 18; Reuters reported 45 arrests, including 34 minors.
- Over 150 raids were conducted in Lombardy on the morning of October 24.
Criticism & Opposition
Journalist Martina Miccichè, injured while filming the clashes, argued that “this government just tries to repress protesters instead of listening to them and addressing the issues.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Luxury boutiques in the fashion district boarded their windows with wooden planks, and several stores closed pre-emptively. Protesters coordinated via Instagram, TikTok and Telegram, with the “October 17 Movement” revealing meeting points minutes before marches. In Milan’s Duomo square, police and soldiers set up checkpoints; similar perimeters appeared in Rome and Turin.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on the scale of arrests: Al Jazeera’s 271 versus Reuters’ 45. Both agree most detainees were minors, but exact numbers vary. No source provides a definitive breakdown of participants’ nationalities, leaving the demographic profile unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is nothing revolutionary about vandalising and stealing. Vandalism and theft are not protest, they are criminality,” — Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- “Many young people increasingly lack a sense of belonging and prospects for the future. Part of our society feels excluded, amid social and economic inequalities,” — Lamberto Bertolé
- “For the youth who live in poverty, the impossibility of accessing those symbols of wealth can spark violent behaviour and looting,” — Gregorio Sorgona
What’s Next
A new wave of demonstrations is scheduled for October 24 in eight Italian cities, including Milan, Rome, Turin and Naples. Authorities said the 500 soldiers will remain in Milan until year-end, and drone surveillance and railway-station checks will continue on protest days. The decree’s legal provisions must be converted into law within 60 days, after which the expanded detention powers and parental liability will take effect.