Italy on edge after violent weekend protests. Luxury shops in Milan close as the Government deploys 500 soldiers

The government led by Giorgia Meloni is preparing to send 500 soldiers to Milan, following the violent protests that affected the city and other locations in northern Italy. The announcement was made Monday by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, and the measure is expected to be included in a security package approved Tuesday.

The violence broke out on Saturday, during a demonstration concerning the rising cost of living, the deterioration of public services, and wars. The protest escalated after people with their faces covered threw stones at law enforcement officers, set trash bins and barricades on fire, and smashed or looted stores.

Police used water cannons and tear gas in the Piazza del Duomo area and in the city’s commercial center. In Milan, 271 people were taken to police stations, 32 were arrested, and another 28 were reported to the judicial authorities. Incidents and arrests were also recorded in Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo, and Turin.

Shopkeepers in the central areas, including on Via Montenapoleone, closed their stores or protected their shop windows. Meloni condemned the violence, while the government is considering tougher measures, including against minors and youth gangs.