Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a security meeting on Monday following two days of violent clashes between demonstrators and police in Milan. The unrest erupted after a largely peaceful protest against the rising cost of living and ongoing wars, which drew more than 5,000 participants, including many students.
The situation escalated on Saturday evening in Piazza del Duomo, a central square known for its bustling tourist and shopping activity, as groups of masked rioters began throwing paving stones, bins, and chairs at law enforcement officers. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas and subsequently cleared the area, including the nearby Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Damage included burning barricades, overturned rubbish bins, and a carabinieri vehicle severely damaged by the rioters. Authorities detained 72 suspects, many of whom were minors, and arrested 16 individuals. Among police, 104 officers sustained injuries, while 13 civilians required medical attention.
Meloni condemned the violence on social media, describing the perpetrators as “criminals” who exploit peaceful demonstrations to incite disorder. She expressed solidarity with the security forces, emphasizing their role in protecting residents, workers, and business owners against what she called “gangs of hooligans.” Other members of the government, including Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, also denounced the attacks. Salvini characterized the incidents as “urban warfare” and labeled the rioters “cowards and criminals.”
Similar disturbances were reported in other Italian cities. In Turin, demonstrators threw rocks and eggs at police, while in Rome, protestors used firecrackers and small homemade explosives to target security personnel and the Ministry of Education’s headquarters. According to the Interior Ministry, law enforcement identified or detained 197 individuals nationwide in connection with the unrest.
The unrest in Milan persisted into Sunday afternoon, with reports of youths overturning bins, bicycles, scooters, and outdoor café furniture along the city’s shopping thoroughfares. A Decathlon store was evacuated as a precaution.
The protests in Italy coincided with demonstrations across Europe. In Albania, rallies entered their sixth day as thousands gathered to protest against poor university conditions, high tuition fees, and widespread corruption. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected calls for his resignation, insisting the protests posed a threat to the country’s EU accession ambitions rather than his administration.
In Brussels, clashes occurred between police and students protesting educational expenses, where many demonstrators wore masks and chanted anti-fascist slogans. Meanwhile, tens of thousands marched in Lisbon to protest soaring living costs and an ongoing housing crisis in Portugal.