# Bologna Mayor Condemns Violence in Cost-of-Living Protests

> Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore denounced violent acts during widespread cost-of-living protests across Italy on October 17-18, 2026, where over 140 law enforcement officers were injured.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-19T11:47:33.967295Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/bologna-mayor-condemns-violence-in-cost-of-living-protests-554a0dcb

Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore condemned the unrest that occurred during cost-of-living protests on the weekend of October 17-18, 2026, and urged young people to distance themselves from those using demonstrations as a pretext for violence [5][6]. This statement followed a period of intense clashes in multiple Italian cities, which resulted in injuries to over 140 law enforcement officers [1][5][6][9].

The violence has prompted a renewed national debate regarding public safety, responsibility for property damage during demonstrations, and how authorities should respond to protests stemming from economic hardship [5]. The unrest also led to significant arrests and property damage, highlighting immediate concerns for urban stability and public order across Italy.

## What the records show

During the weekend of October 17-18, 2026, protests organized by the Italia in Piazza movement escalated into violent clashes in several Italian cities, including Milan, Turin, Bologna, Bergamo, and Brescia [1][2][3][4][5][6][8][9]. Police estimates indicated approximately 5,000 participants in Milan, 3,000 in Turin, 2,000 in Bologna, 800 in Bergamo, and 600 in Brescia [2][6][9].

The demonstrations, primarily against rising living costs, fuel prices, and tax pressures, saw groups throw stones, bottles, firecrackers, and barriers at officers [2][5][6][9][11]. Law enforcement responded with tear gas and water cannons [2][5][6][9][11]. In Milan, more than 200 people were detained, with around 80% being minors [1][3]. Across the affected cities, 141 law enforcement officers sustained injuries [1][5][6][9][12]. Shops in city centers were looted and damaged, and a Carabinieri vehicle was destroyed [1][2][9]. Retail association Confcommercio estimated damages to businesses in Milan at over €500,000 [2][9]. In Bologna, five minors were arrested following clashes near the railway station [5][6][9]. In Turin, police arrested an adult and three minors, with the minors allegedly carrying Molotov cocktails [5][8][9].

## The timeline

The protests and subsequent clashes began on Saturday, October 17, 2026, and continued through Sunday, October 18, 2026, across various northern Italian cities [1][5][6][9]. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called an emergency public order meeting for Monday, October 19, 2026, to address the situation [1].

## What changed and for whom

The widespread violence intensified a national discussion in Italy on public safety, accountability for damage during protests, and appropriate official responses to demonstrations driven by economic issues [5]. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced that his League party would reintroduce a parliamentary proposal to require organizers of high-risk demonstrations to provide financial guarantees for potential damages [5][6]. This proposal aims to ensure financial coverage for any harm arising from such events [5].

## What the subject has said publicly

Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore publicly condemned the unrest, stating that young people should distance themselves from individuals who exploit demonstrations as an excuse for violence [5][6][9][12]. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned the violence, asserting that while demonstrating is a right,

## Evidence cited
1. Italian PM Meloni to hold emergency meeting after weekend of violent clashes (www.bbc.co.uk) — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6j9kwxxmxydo?at_campaign=rss&at_medium=RSS
2. (October 17 2026) Organised by the Italia in Piazza movement, the protests targeted rising living costs, fuel prices and tax pressures. Police estimated turnout at 5,000 in Milan, 3,000 in Turin, 2,000 in Bologna, 800 in Bergamo and 600 in Brescia. ... In Milan, groups threw stones, bottles, firecrackers and barriers at officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannon. Shops in the city centre were damaged and looted, and a Carabinieri vehicle was destroyed. Police arrested 17 people in th (trtworld.com) — https://trtworld.com/
3. (October 19 2026) The Italian security forces have arrested more than 200 young people, of which around 80% are minors, in a second consecutive night of serious disturbances, vandalism, and looting in the center of Milan, following the mobilizations called in this city and in other cities of the country, such as Turin or Bologna, in protest against the rising cost of living in Italy. The disturbances have developed through the swift movement of small groups of hooded young people, who moved main (democrata.es) — https://democrata.es/
4. (October 18 2026) Clashes between protesters and police also broke out in Turin, Bologna, and Bergamo. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence. At the same time, high diesel prices are fueling protests by truckers and farmers in southern Italy. Summary created with myAi. At least 24 people were injured during violent riots in Milan on Saturday evening. Four police officers and 20 protesters required medical treatment. Police arrested more than 50 youths. About half of them were mino (bluewin.ch) — https://bluewin.ch/
5. (October 18 2026) Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore also condemned the unrest, urging young people to distance themselves from individuals who use demonstrations as a pretext for violence. The clashes have renewed debate in Italy over public safety, responsibility for damage during demonstrations and how authorities should respond to protests driven by economic hardship. While the demonstrations centred on concerns over the rising cost of living, the violence and damage in several cities have drawn co (arabtimesonline.com) — https://arabtimesonline.com/
6. (October 18 2026) Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said protesters' grievances were understandable but violence against officers and extensive damage to the city were unjustifiable. Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore similarly condemned the unrest and urged young people to distance themselves from those using demonstrations as a pretext for violence.
...
(October 18 2026) Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore similarly condemned the unrest and urged young people to distance themselves from those using demonstrations as (aa.com.tr) — https://aa.com.tr/
7. (October 18 2026) At least two police officers were injured and about 50 demonstrators, including many minors, were detained, the LaPresse news agency reported. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence in a social media post. “Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not,” she wrote, citing “hooligans who exploit demonstrations to sow chaos, attack those responsible for ensuring security and hold entire cities hostage.” Milan's center-left mayor, Giuseppe Sala , said “ (washingtonpost.com) — https://washingtonpost.com/
8. (October 18 2026) Four minors were arrested, and 36 law enforcement officers were injured or suffered bruises in the clashes, ANSA reported, citing a police update. In Turin, police detained 12 people, including 10 minors, following clashes with protesters, local media reported.
...
(October 18 2026) ROME, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Protests against the rising cost of living turned violent on Saturday in several northern Italian cities, including Milan, Bologna and Turin, leaving dozens of people injur (news.cn) — https://news.cn/
9. (October 19 2026) At least 141 police officers have been injured and 197 people arrested as protests over the rising cost of living, fuel prices and higher taxes escalated across Italy on Saturday and Sunday, with clashes reported in several major cities. The demonstrations, organised under the banner of 'Italia in Piazza', intensified on Sunday (October 18), with police taking 197 people to police stations and bringing 43 of them before courts, according to Italian broadcaster Sky TG24. On Satu (observerbd.com) — https://observerbd.com/
10. (October 19 2026) 'We are suffocating': protests spread to Lisbon and Milan as housing and living cost tensions intensify. Hundreds at Lisbon tent camp demand action, as Giorgia Meloni says march in Italy was exploited by 'hooligans'. Sam Jones in Madrid and agencies. Sun 18 Oct 2026 07.02 EDT Last modified on Sun 18 Oct 2026 22.38 EDT. Share. Prefer the Guardian on Google. The angry protests that have convulsed Spain and France in recent weeks have spilled over to Italy and Portugal, with riote (theguardian.com) — https://theguardian.com/
11. (October 18 2026) Two police officers were injured, and at least 40 protesters were arrested in Milan on Saturday as a demonstration against the high cost of living turned violent, with clashes also breaking out in Bologna and Turin, according to Italian media reports and a police union. According to Domenico Pianese, general secretary of the Coisp police union, violent groups attacked officers with firecrackers, stones and barriers in Piazza Duomo. The unrest began in the early afternoon, when  (i24news.tv) — https://i24news.tv/
12. Italian police arrested 28, 141 officers injured in cost-of-living protests (yenisafak.com) — https://yenisafak.com/
13. (October 18 2026) Get breaking news fast — follow us on WhatsApp and Telegram. ROME: As in France, violent clashes have broken out in Italy on the fringes of peaceful demonstrations against the high cost of living, German Press Agency (dpa) reported, citing Italian news agency ANSA on Sunday. The main focus was the northern Italian city of Milan, where black-clad, masked youths pelted police in the central Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square) with fireworks and bottles and erected barricades, ANSA re (nst.com.my) — https://nst.com.my/
14. (October 19 2026) Demonstrations over the rising cost of living, poor public services, and related grievances turned violent in Italy and Belgium on 17–18 October 2026, echoing the large-scale unrest in neighbouring France. In Italy, clashes erupted on Saturday 17 October in several northern cities, including Milan, Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin, during or on the margins of protests against high living costs and inadequate services. In Milan, police in riot gear fired tear gas and deployed (eualive.net) — https://eualive.net/
15. (October 18 2026) "Italia in Piazza" protesters clash with police in Milan, Italy, on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo). Italian police arrested 28 people, including 12 minors, following clashes during cost-of-living protests in several cities on Saturday, while tensions continued in central Milan on Sunday, Sky TG24 reported. Police said 197 people were identified and taken to police stations, while 43 were reported to judicial authorities. Their overall tally listed 141 injured law enforceme (anews.com.tr) — https://anews.com.tr/
16. (October 18 2026) Drawing a clear distinction between the right to protest and acts of violence, she said, “Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not.” Turning to opposition political parties, Meloni urged rival leaders to take an explicit, unambiguous stance against street violence, warning that failing to do so undermines public safety and law enforcement. “I renew my request to the opposition: do not be ambiguous about this,” Meloni said. “Unequivocally condemn these acts of  (timesofoman.com) — https://timesofoman.com/
17. (October 18 2026) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has demanded an unequivocal condemnation of political violence from opposition parties after nationwide protests over rising living costs descended into clashes with police, fires and vandalism across several Italian cities. The unrest on Saturday (October 17) disrupted demonstrations in Milan, Turin and Bologna, where protesters hurled stones and other objects at security personnel. Police responded with riot-control measures as several pe (thestatesman.com) — https://thestatesman.com/
18. (October 17 2026) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned violence during demonstrations in several Italian cities, calling on opposition parties to unequivocally denounce attacks on police officers and acts of vandalism. In a statement posted on social media platform X, accompanied by video footage of clashes in Milan, Meloni said she respected the thousands of people who had taken part in peaceful demonstrations but warned that violence could not be justified under the right to pro (frontnews.ge) — https://frontnews.ge/
19. (October 18 2026)  3 Articles 
 
  * Plants Against Sala After the Clashes in Milan: Bang and Response on the Management of Public Order. 
  * Piantedosis Responds to the Mayor of Milan: Radical Chic. 
  * FDI - FRATELLI D'ITALIA * SENATE: “MILAN, SISLER (FDI): “SALA TAKES IT OUT ON THE POLICE INSTEAD OF ON THE VIOLENT AND WITH THOSE WHO JUSTIFY THEM IN THEIR MAJORITY”” - Opinion News Agency.   News From Italy - World/Trentino Alto Adige.   By Luca Franceschi///After the serious episodes of viol (ground.news) — https://ground.news/
20. (October 18 2026) Authorities' and politicians' reactions

 ... In Bologna, the Confcommercio organization estimated the damage from the unrest at more than €500,000. Following the previous unrest across Italy, police identified and took 197 people to their units. Twenty-eight people were arrested, including 12 minors, and 43 people were charged. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala assessed that the number of forces available to the local police may have been insufficient. This sparked a heated dispute wi (ua.news) — https://ua.news/
21. (October 19 2026) Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni is convening a security meeting regarding street clashes in Milan and other cities across the country on October 17–18, Report informs referring to Quotidiano Nazionale. "I have convened a public order meeting at Palazzo Chigi to assess the situation and consider further measures against those who use legitimate demonstrations to incite violence and chaos," she noted. According to the Rai News television channel, more than 200 people, most (report.az) — https://report.az/
22. (October 18 2026) October 19, 2026 · The Japan Times. Subscribe. Digital Print. Search. Cyberattacks · Consumption tax · Foreign community in Japan · Latest News · Today's print edition · Home Delivery · JAPAN · Politics · Society · Crime & Legal · Science & Health · Explainer · History · WORLD · Politics · Crime & Legal · Science ... Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called an emergency meeting for Monday, according to the media. “Demonstrating is a right; setting our cities on fire is not, (japantimes.co.jp) — https://japantimes.co.jp/
23. (October 19 2026) The protests were accompanied by serious clashes, and in Milan, the riots continued the next day. Italian media compare the events to the recent mass riots in France. However, reports of vandalism and looting do not imply that all participants in the demonstrations were involved in violence. ## Meloni convened a meeting of security officials Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has scheduled a meeting with security service representatives for Monday, October 19. The meeting is (inbox.lv) — https://inbox.lv/
24. (October 18 2026) What is the government planning to do about the violence? Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has convened a summit on public order at Palazzo Chigi for Monday, October 19. According to AGI and L'Edicola, Deputy Prime Ministers Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, Interior Minister Piantedosi, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, and the heads of the intelligence services and police are expected to attend. Meloni had stated that protesting is a right, but setting cities on fire is not. She (italien.news) — https://italien.news/
25. (October 19 2026) Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence and announced a meeting on public order at Palazzo Chigi on Monday to discuss further measures against those exploiting demonstrations to cause unrest. Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala also acknowledged the grievances behind the protests while condemning the destruction, saying the reasons for demonstrating were understandable but violence against law enforcement and serious damage to the city were unjustifiable. The unrest in Italy (indiatimes.com) — https://indiatimes.com/
26. (October 19 2026) Mon, 19 October 2026. Italy's news in English. Advertising. Advertise with Us · How to insert your Classifieds · Insert your Classified · About our Yellow Pages · Insert your Yellow Page · Contact us · Menu ... Prime minister Giorgia Meloni has called a public order meeting at Palazzo Chigi for Monday. Background. The unrest follows student protests on Friday over conditions in schools, and a larger demonstration on Saturday against the rising cost of living in Milan, Turin and (wantedinmilan.com) — https://wantedinmilan.com/
27. (October 19 2026) Serious clashes also broke out in Milan and other major Italian cities on Saturday on the sidelines of peaceful demonstrations against the high cost of living. Italian media drew comparisons with violent riots that are taking place in multiple cities in France. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called a meeting with security officials at her office in Rome for Monday. "I have called a meeting on public order at Palazzo Chigi for tomorrow to assess the situation and discuss further  (kyfreepress.com.au) — https://kyfreepress.com.au/
28. Current time information in Italy. — https://www.google.com/search?q=time+in+Italy
29. Current time information in Città Metropolitana di Bologna, IT. — https://www.google.com/search?q=time+in+Citt%C3%A0+Metropolitana+di+Bologna,+IT
30. Current time information in Milan, IT. — https://www.google.com/search?q=time+in+Milan,+IT
31. (October 18 2026) Tensions continued in central Milan on Sunday following clashes between protesters and security forces during demonstrations against rising living costs, fuel prices and tax pressures. Police said 197 people were identified and taken to police stations, while 43 were reported to judicial authorities. The demonstrations, organized by the Italia in Piazza movement, drew approximately 5,000 participants in Milan, 3,000 in Turin, 2,000 in Bologna, 600 in Brescia and 800 in Bergamo, (saudigazette.com.sa) — https://saudigazette.com.sa/
32. (October 18 2026) The minister reassured the mayor by explaining that the adequacy of the measures is always verified afterward, but firmly reiterated that the responsibility of those who commit violence "cannot be diluted in a controversy over the number of police officers." According to Piantedosi, in this instance, as always, the agents in the square were present and "operated well, avoiding worse troubles." Meanwhile, the Milan administration continues the restoration and cleaning operations (lasicilia.it) — https://lasicilia.it/
33. (October 19 2026) Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a security meeting on Monday to address the violence, which resembled some scenes of chaos and looting in Paris. Youths and police clashed for a second day in Milan on Sunday, where mostly black-clad assailants hurled bottles, ransacked stores and destroyed property around the central Duomo plaza. ADVERTISEMENT. ADVERTISEMENT. Police in the northern city have arrested more than 200 people since Saturday, according to Ansa news agency. Th (euronews.com) — https://euronews.com/
34. (October 18 2026) Italian leaders condemn violence

 ... Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said his League party would resubmit a parliamentary proposal requiring organizers of demonstrations considered risky to provide financial guarantees to cover potential damage. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said protesters' grievances were understandable but that violence against officers and extensive damage to the city were unjustifiable. Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore also condemned the unrest and urged you (operativmm.az) — https://operativmm.az/