Italy to send 500 troops to Milan after violent protests; 271 people detained
In short
Police in Milan detained 271 people, 220 of them minors, after protests against rising prices and worsening public services turned violent and involved looting, ANSA reported on 19 October. On 20 October the Italian government decided to deploy 500 troops to Milan, according to Corriere della Sera and ANSA as cited by Korean outlets. A group called the October 17 Movement said it will keep protesting every Saturday.
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Police in Milan detained 271 people after violent protests involving looting, Italian news agency ANSA reported on 19 October. Of those detained, 220 were minors and 60 were foreign nationals. Authorities said 32 were arrested and 28 were referred to prosecutors. Those detained are suspected of obstructing officials, damaging property and looting. Dong-A Ilbo, citing ANSA, said the 32 arrested included 23 minors and 13 foreigners, and that prosecutors asked a court to hold five people aged 18 to 20 in custody. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Outlets say the protests began over rising prices and worsening public services. Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily describe a lawful protest at which some participants turned violent. Hankook Ilbo said the violence began at a rally called 'Italia in Piazza' on 17 October, where more than 5,000 people marched at one point and some young participants threw stones, firecrackers and bottles at police. Police used tear gas and water cannon. Protesters sprayed fire extinguishers and set off gunpowder, and Euronews said the clashes at Duomo square resembled street fighting. Dong-A Ilbo said 14 police officers were injured. Similar clashes were reported in Turin, Bologna and, according to Hankook Ilbo, Bergamo. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
A group calling itself the October 17 Movement said on social media that it would keep protesting every Saturday until what it called the 'thieving government' falls. Meloni said that protesting is a right but burning and destroying cities is not, according to Hankook Ilbo and Newsis, and Seoul Economic Daily reported that she called the violence unjustifiable. Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said shop windows were smashed and shops looted. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 14 ]
Separate protests by truck drivers over high fuel prices also spread. On 19 October, according to several outlets, part of the entrance to the Port of Naples was blocked. Hankook Ilbo said disruptions to fresh produce supplies had occurred in Sicily and Calabria. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the pasta maker Rummo said it had halted production for lack of raw materials. [ 1 , 2 , 9 , 10 ]
On 20 October Corriere della Sera reported that the government had decided to deploy 500 troops to Milan, and that a decree would be issued soon. Newsis, citing ANSA, said Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said Meloni took the decision at an emergency meeting, and that the troops would have police powers. Kyunghyang Shinmun said the government was considering restricting access to parts of the city centre, and Corriere della Sera was reported as saying that extending preventive detention from adults to people under 18 was under discussion. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called the unrest a kind of hybrid war waged against the state through means such as social media. Tajani said it should be checked what coordination lay behind it. [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
A Yonhap article published on 22 October is titled as reporting that paratroopers are being sent to Milan until the end of the year, and its summary mentions anti-government protests over high prices and worker strikes in various places. [ 15 ]
Why it matters
The government is responding with troops, possible access limits in parts of the city centre and a proposal to extend preventive detention to minors. Separate truckers' protests over fuel prices are also disrupting supplies, according to the Korean outlets.
Key facts
- ANSA reported on 19 October that 271 people were detained in Milan; 220 were minors and 60 were foreign nationals. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Of those detained, 32 were arrested and 28 were referred to prosecutors, authorities said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The protests were against rising prices and worsening public services; clashes also occurred in Turin and Bologna. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- On 20 October the government decided to deploy 500 troops to Milan, with a decree to be issued soon. [ 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
- Truckers protesting high fuel prices blocked part of the Port of Naples entrances on 19 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said protesting is a right but burning and destroying cities is not. [ 2 , 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police in Milan detained 271 people, including 220 minors and 60 foreign nationals, after violent and looting protests. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The government decided to deploy 500 troops to Milan after an emergency security meeting chaired by Meloni. [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
- Truckers' protests over fuel prices are continuing and disrupting supplies; the pasta maker Rummo said it halted production for lack of raw materials. [ 9 , 10 , 12 ]
Still unclear
- When the violence began: 17 October or 18 October. One report says the violent rally was on 17 October, another describes the protest as taking place the day before 19 October, and Dong-A Ilbo refers to 17-18 October.
- Whether the unrest was coordinated. Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said it should be checked what coordination lay behind it, and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called it a form of hybrid war waged through means such as social media; the documents give no evidence.
- Details of the deployment announced in a 22 October Yonhap headline, which says paratroopers will be sent to Milan and stay until the end of the year. Only the headline and a short summary are available.
- Whether the extra measures under review will be adopted: restricting access to parts of the city centre and extending preventive detention to minors. Outlets say the government is considering or discussing them; no decision is reported.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports, on 19 October, ANSA's figure of 271 people detained in Milan. [ 1 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports on 19 October that 32 were formally arrested and that the October 17 Movement plans protests every Saturday. [ 4 ]
- Yonhap reports on 20 October that the government will send troops to Milan. [ 8 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports on 20 October, citing Corriere della Sera, that 500 troops will be deployed. [ 11 ]
- Newsis reports on 20 October that Tajani said Meloni decided on the deployment of 500 troops at an emergency meeting. [ 14 ]
- Yonhap publishes on 22 October a report titled that paratroopers are being sent to Milan until the end of the year. [ 15 ]