Five hundred army troops are heading to Milan. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced the deployment on Monday, vowing to “defend the city” after two days of chaos that left luxury districts in ruins and police overwhelmed. It is the first time the military has been explicitly tasked with protecting a major Italian metropolis in recent memory.
The move signals a sharp escalation in Rome’s response to a crisis that began as a protest over crumbling public services and soaring living costs. Now, with violence spreading, the government is framing this as a battle for state authority rather than a social grievance.
Boarded Windows
By Monday morning, the famous Via Montenapoleone looked like a war zone. Stores housing Chanel, Tiffany, and Dior had pulled their merchandise from the windows. The air was thick with tension as police patrolled the cobblestones. “From words to action: 500 more troops to defend Milan,” Salvini wrote on social media, making his intent clear. The financial capital is effectively under siege, with shop owners boarding up their fronts in fear of a second wave of looting.
Minors in the Mix
The violence wasn’t just random. Several hundred hooded protesters, many of them minors, set bins on fire and smashed through glass. Decathlon, Arc’teryx, and Vodafone stores were ransacked. Police detained 271 young people on Sunday alone. Of those, 32 were arrested, including 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, facing a national election next year, chaired an emergency meeting with security chiefs. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani warned that the government would respond “firmly,” hinting at stricter laws for youth gangs.
The unrest mirrors the violent protests currently shaking France, where citizens are fed up with the cost of living. For now, the Italian cabinet meets Tuesday to approve the security package. The army is coming, but whether it stops the anger remains to be seen.
Source: Guardian World
This article was compiled by the IndiaBBCNews editorial system from verified international news sources. Facts have been independently reviewed. Original reporting: Guardian World.
