On October 18 in Milan, on the second day of protests sparked by dissatisfaction with public services and rising prices, the situation escalated into mass riots. According to Italian police, 271 young people were detained during the clashes. Law enforcement reported that some of them smashed shop windows and looted stores in the city center.
Store Windows and Looting: The Scene
Police used tear gas and water cannons as several hundred hooded protesters set fire to dumpsters and began looting retail outlets. Damaged stores included Decathlon and Arc'teryx chains, as well as a Vodafone phone store in central Milan. Out of those taken to police stations, 32 people were arrested, including 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals, police stated on October 19. Another 28 individuals were handed over to judicial authorities.
Second Day of Protests: From Demands to Riots
The unrest in Milan was a continuation of similar clashes that took place on Saturday in several northern Italian cities — Milan, Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo, and Turin. According to authorities, 28 protesters were arrested at the time. On the second day of demonstrations, participants who initially protested against poor public services and high prices turned to arson and looting.
Government Reaction: Meloni and Cabinet Meeting
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence during the protests and announced a government meeting for Monday to discuss ways to resolve the situation. Thus, the authorities are attempting to simultaneously signal a firm stance against riots and find a mechanism for de-escalation amid ongoing public discontent.
Italian Riots Against the Backdrop of French Unrest
The events in Milan unfolded against the backdrop of large-scale protests in neighboring France, where hundreds of thousands took to the streets on October 17 in one of the toughest crackdowns in recent years. According to authorities, 2,000 people have already been detained in France, with 110 marches held nationwide. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu requested a partial curfew following the unrest, and the Louvre in Paris remained closed due to the protests. French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation following the largest-scale protests and riots in recent years.
