Violent student and social protests erupt across Italian cities

Since October 16, 2026, a wave of demonstrations has swept across major Italian cities, including Turin, Rome, Milan, and Bologna, targeting the policies of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Protests, initially focused on education and the cost of living, escalated into violent clashes between masked individuals and security forces. In Milan, the unrest resulted in the looting of shops, attacks on supermarkets, and property damage, particularly near the Duomo. Authorities report that during the weekend, 32 individuals were arrested and 271 detained, with 220 of those detained being minors and 60 holding foreign citizenship.

In response, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened an emergency cabinet meeting at Palazzo Chigi to address public order. The government decided to strengthen the 'Safe Streets' operation by deploying 500 soldiers to Milan and drafting a legislative decree to expand the use of preventive detentions. President Sergio Mattarella has called for a deep analysis of the violence. A previously unknown movement called '17 October' has issued a manifesto threatening continuous protests, with new demonstrations already scheduled for October 24 in Turin and October 30 in Rome, alongside a national general strike on November 20.