Thousands of young people marched through the streets of major Italian cities, including Milan, Rome, and Turin, on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The demonstrations took place under a significant security blanket, as authorities deployed large numbers of police and soldiers in a bid to prevent a repeat of the violent clashes and looting that occurred the previous week.
In Milan, the demonstration remained largely peaceful, although luxury boutiques, including those in the city's fashion district, remained boarded up as a precaution. Italian media reported that by late afternoon, many stores had resumed operations, though some major outlets remained closed. Meanwhile, authorities in Rome and Turin reported brief clashes between protesters and law enforcement. The scale of the unrest was not limited to Italy; similar protests occurred across various European cities, spanning from Madrid and Lisbon to Tirana, reflecting a broad range of concerns including education, housing, pensions, and corruption.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a series of new security measures in response to the volatility. These include the deployment of an additional 500 soldiers to Milan, supplementing the hundreds already stationed in the city. The military personnel are working alongside approximately 5,000 police and security officers. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto clarified that these soldiers are permitted to use plastic restraint ties only in specific areas near train stations and are not authorised to carry tasers or pepper spray. Furthermore, the government has proposed tougher penalties for minors, a demographic police identified as a significant portion of those involved in the previous week's violent incidents.
Technology and surveillance played a central role in the security strategy. Authorities utilised drone monitoring, rapid-response units, and online surveillance to track potential calls for violence. In Milan, police conducted preventive detentions of several minors ahead of the march. Officials are also investigating a 30-year-old freelance journalist alleged to be the leader of the 'October 17 movement,' which has been identified as a primary driver of the recent protest wave in Italy.
The demographics of last week's rioters were a point of focus for law enforcement. Milan police stated that the looting and violence involved approximately 2,000 young protesters, including many second-generation Italians and foreign nationals. Over the course of two days last week, authorities arrested 45 individuals, 34 of whom were minors. On Saturday, a small group of far-right activists associated with a local football club briefly appeared in Milan, chanting anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim slogans before being isolated by police.
In Rome, security measures were equally stringent, with luxury shopping streets locked down and access restricted near major landmarks. A small group of demonstrators briefly attempted to enter the Colosseum but were removed by security guards. Despite these incidents, many student groups emphasised that the vast majority of young people participating in the demonstrations intended to remain peaceful and did not support the looting seen during the previous weekend.
The protests in Milan concluded in the evening outside the Polytechnic, situated more than three kilometres from the city centre. As the country looks toward future political developments, including a centre-left primary scheduled for early 2027, the government continues to grapple with the underlying socioeconomic issues driving the unrest while maintaining a heavy security presence in urban centres.
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