Milan police report that last week’s violence and looting involved about 2,000 very young protesters, many of them “naturalized, second-generation Italians,” alongside foreign nationals, reports BritPanorama.
Over the course of two days, police arrested 45 individuals, including 34 minors. Authorities are increasingly concerned about the sense of disenfranchisement among the youth. “Many young people increasingly lack a sense of belonging and prospects for the future. Part of our society feels excluded, amid social and economic inequalities,” said Milan’s welfare councilor, Lamberto Bertolé, to the Associated Press.
In response to the unrest, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced the deployment of soldiers on Saturday. He clarified that the soldiers were recently granted permission to use plastic restraint ties, but only in areas around train stations and not throughout the entire city. They are not authorized to carry pepper spray or tasers.
Protesters try to force entry into Colosseum in Rome
Heightened security measures were also implemented in Rome, where authorities locked down luxury shopping streets and increased controls around the Circus Maximus and Piazza del Popolo. A small group of protesters attempted to force their way into the Colosseum but were quickly escorted out by security guards. Meanwhile, several hundred students held peaceful demonstrations, emphasizing their distinction from the rioters.
