After two days of protests, Milan luxury shops close as Italy prepares to deploy 500 troops to city
Troops planned for Milan
Deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday that Italy would dispatch 500 army troops to Milan after clashes between demonstrators and police. He said the troops would be sent to “defend Milan.” The unrest followed an initially peaceful demonstration on Saturday focused on poor public services and rising costs. Over the weekend, protesters looted shops and vandalised property.
Stores hit during unrest
Several hundred hooded protesters, many believed to be minors, set bins on fire and looted shops in the city centre. Television footage showed damage at sports retailers Decathlon and Arc’teryx and mobile phone operator Vodafone. Levi’s and Under Armour, along with Decathlon, covered shop windows with cardboard and wooden panels.
Police report detentions
Italian police said 271 young people were detained during Sunday’s unrest. Of those taken to police stations, 32 were arrested, including 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals; another 28 people were reported to judicial authorities. Foreign minister and deputy prime minister Antonio Tajani said the government would respond firmly to attacks on the state, including through measures intended to curb violence by minors.
Unrest echoes France protests
The disturbances in Milan echoed unrest in neighbouring France. Hundreds of thousands of people there protested on Saturday over rising living costs and declining public services, in some of the country’s most violent demonstrations in years.
Key points
- Italy plans to send 500 army troops to Milan after two days of unrest.
- Police detained 271 young people during Sunday’s disturbances; 32 were arrested.
- Stores including Decathlon, Arc’teryx and Vodafone were looted.
- The Milan unrest followed protests in France over living costs and public services.