220 Minors Detained as Italy Sends Troops to Milan Before Eight-City Marches

Of the 271 people detained during last Sunday's unrest in Milan, 220 were under the age of 18. This specific statistic has shaped the government's response as it prepares for a new wave of demonstrations scheduled for Saturday in eight Italian cities. The protests target Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing administration and the rising cost of living.

In response to the previous weekend's clashes and looting, the government ordered the deployment of 500 soldiers to Milan. This move adds to a series of security measures announced following the disorder. Police conducted raids and searches in several cities on Friday, targeting suspects involved in the riots. Officers carried out an additional 150 raids on Saturday morning in the Lombardy region, according to the news agency Adnkronos.

The new protests are organized by a group calling itself the October 17 Movement, which works alongside student federations, grassroots trade unions, and antiwar coalitions. The group stated on Instagram that it distrusts the government as authoritarian. Organizers are keeping the specific meeting points secret until the last minute. Three locations are expected to be revealed on social media accounts on Saturday afternoon.

Police have located and are questioning the administrator of the group's Instagram page. The Corriere della Sera identifies him as a 30-year-old Italian-Moroccan freelance journalist and researcher. He is under investigation for suspicion of inciting crimes. Meanwhile, movement members on Telegram emphasized the need for peaceful conduct. One participant identified as E warned that giving police an excuse would lead to a charge, while another member identified as Q noted there was no distinction between violent and peaceful protesters.

Legal representatives highlight the young age of many detainees. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino defends two demonstrators, aged 21 and 15. He noted that the younger client did not know the reasons behind the protest and had only seen it on TikTok. The teenager was not a looter but did not grasp the seriousness of the events. The public prosecutor has blamed social media for misleading young people into insurrectional acts.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio told Sky TG24 that the country must expand the capacity of youth detention facilities. This statement addresses the mass arrests of minors. Separately, truck drivers in southern Italy set up roadblocks earlier this week to protest soaring fuel prices. These blockades left many markets without supplies for days. The government responded on Thursday by granting tax breaks and creating a special fund for farmers and fishermen.