Italy has announced a new set of security measures targeting violent demonstrations following widespread rioting in Milan’s central shopping district over the weekend, where numerous stores were looted and properties set ablaze.
A government decree mandates the deployment of an additional 500 military personnel to Milan through the end of the year. The decree introduces stricter accountability for damages, holding parents financially responsible for harm caused by their underage children. It also lowers the threshold for prosecuting minors, automatically presuming those aged 14 and above can distinguish right from wrong unless proven otherwise.
In a video statement released on social media, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the scenes of chaos as both distressing and alarming. “These young people came into the square not to protest but to destroy, steal and even record themselves doing it,” she remarked. “We must respond with firmness to ensure these images do not inspire imitation.”
The decree establishes a new criminal offense—violent participation in public demonstrations—which carries penalties of up to five years imprisonment and fines reaching €20,000 ($22,500). Penalties escalate if perpetrators conceal their identities or cause injury to others.
To address overcrowding in juvenile justice systems, Meloni stated that the government plans to expand detention capacity and increase staffing within juvenile courts.
Authorities reported that over the course of two days of unrest, more than 100 law enforcement officers sustained injuries. Police resorted to water cannons and tear gas to control crowds largely composed of masked individuals engaging in looting and arson.
Milan police indicated approximately 2,000 youths took part in Saturday night’s disturbances, many being either naturalized citizens or foreign nationals. Among the nearly 50 people detained across the weekend, over 30 were minors.
The protests overlapped with similar demonstrations across neighboring France, where citizens rallied against rising living costs and voiced support for student grievances. French law enforcement also intervened using tear gas and water cannons to manage escalating tensions among some participants.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)