Demonstrations in Italy against the high cost of living, rising living costs and problems in public services witnessed violent clashes at the weekend. In Milan, the country's economic and financial center, many stores were looted and public and private properties were damaged.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced on Monday that 500 additional soldiers will be sent to the city after the events that have been going on for two days.
Salvini, the leader of his ruling partner, the right-wing League Party, said in his post on his social media account, "From words to action: 500 more soldiers to defend Milan."
It is envisaged that the troop deployment will be included in the comprehensive security measures package to be approved at the Council of Ministers meeting expected to be held on Tuesday.
CHANEL, DIOR, TIFFANY... SHUTTERS ARE DOWN
Worried about new violent incidents, businesses closed their stores in the center of Milan early and increased security measures.
Many stores in the Via Montenapoleone shopping area, where world-famous brands such as Chanel, Tiffany and Dior are located, removed valuable products from their windows. While some businesses closed their showcases with wooden panels, police teams began to patrol the area.
Similar scenes occurred at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall, one of the city's landmarks. While some stores have been closed completely, security measures have been tightened in others.
FIRST THE DEMONSTRATION, THEN THE LOOTING
Peaceful demonstrations that started on Saturday to protest the inadequacy of public services and rising costs of living got out of control over the weekend.
Hundreds of face-covered demonstrators, most of whom were thought to be minors, set fire to garbage containers and looted stores in the city centre.
According to television footage, Decathlon, Arc'teryx and Vodafone stores were among the businesses attacked. International brands such as Levi's and Under Armor also closed their showcases with cardboard and wooden boards against possible new attacks.
PREPARATION FOR 'HARD INTERVENTION' FROM MELONI
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, facing growing social unrest ahead of next year's general elections, condemned the violence.
Meloni met with ministers and senior security officials on Monday and evaluated the developments in the country.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, in his statement on the X account, stated that the government will respond harshly to the events.
"The government will respond decisively to these attacks on the state, including with measures to prevent violence involving minors," Tajani said.
According to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Meloni government is considering expanding preventive detention of minors and taking tougher measures against youth gangs.
In addition, some regulations in the security bill currently being discussed in the parliament are on the agenda to be put into effect earlier.
271 PEOPLE WERE DETAINED IN MILAN
According to the data announced by the Italian police, 271 young people were taken to the police during the events in Milan on Sunday.
A total of 32 people, 23 of whom were minors and 13 of whom were foreign nationals, were arrested. Additionally, judicial authorities were notified about 28 people.
The events were not limited to Milan only. On Saturday, clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces in northern cities such as Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin.
According to the report published by the police on Sunday, 28 demonstrators were arrested during the events in Turin.
WAVE OF PROTEST IS EXPANDING
Developments in Italy coincided with increasing economic and social unrest in different countries of Europe.
In neighboring France, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday to protest rising living costs and the decline in public services.
Demonstrations in France have turned into some of the most violent protests in recent years.
In Italy, the government's preparations to deploy troops and toughen security legislation show that the protests, which started with economic demands, are gradually turning into a matter of public order and political stability.
