Italy's government, led by Premier Giorgia Meloni, has approved the deployment of 500 troops to Milan following violent youth protests and weekend riots. The unrest caused significant damage to the city's central shopping district, where shops were looted and more than 100 police officers were injured.
These violent clashes occurred as fuel price protests hit food deliveries and pasta production in southern Italy. A cabinet meeting on October 20 approved the deployment of soldiers and granted them specific policing powers to control the riots.
The government is also implementing tougher security measures, including the introduction of the crime of violent participation in a demonstration, preventive detention, and bans on gatherings. Furthermore, the new measures make the detention of minors easier and hold parents financially responsible for damage caused by their children.