Meloni orders 500 troops to Milan before Saturday protests

The Italian government has assigned 500 soldiers to Milan in preparation for protests scheduled for Saturday. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing administration introduced the security measure following clashes and looting during demonstrations in the city last week. The new round of marches aims to challenge the government and address rising living costs. Organizers have planned events in eight cities across the country.

A group known as the October 17 Movement announced the new demonstrations online. The coalition includes student federations, grassroots trade unions, and antiwar groups. The movement posted on Instagram that it distrusts the current leadership because it views the government as authoritarian. Participants plan to meet at three undisclosed locations. Organizers intend to reveal the specific meeting points on their social media channels on Saturday afternoon.

Police conducted raids and searches in several cities on Friday to find suspects involved in last weekend's unrest. Adnkronos reported that officers executed a further 150 raids in the Lombardy region on Saturday morning. Authorities have also located and are questioning the administrator of the movement's Instagram page. The Corriere della Sera identified the suspect as a 30-year-old freelance journalist and researcher of Italian and Moroccan descent. He faces an investigation for suspicion of inciting crimes.

The previous round of protests resulted in the detention of 271 people. Of those arrested, 220 were under the age of 18. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio told Sky TG24 that Italy must expand the capacity of its youth detention facilities to handle the large number of minors. The public prosecutor attributed the chaos to social media, which he said misled young people into committing insurrectional acts. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino, who represents a 15-year-old and a 21-year-old defendant, stated that the teenager learned about the protest through TikTok and did not understand the seriousness of the situation.

Organizers emphasized the need for peaceful conduct to avoid police intervention. A participant identified as E told Al Jazeera that the group must remain calm to prevent an excuse for a charge. Another member, identified as Q, argued that there is no distinction between violent and peaceful protesters. The group stated that many participants want to express dissent without conflict.

Truck drivers also set up roadblocks in southern Italy earlier this week. The drivers protested soaring fuel prices, which left many markets without supplies for several days. The government responded on Thursday by granting tax breaks and creating a special fund for farmers and fishermen to ease the economic pressure.