Italy Deploys Troops, Enacts Strict Security Laws After Milan Riots

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has deployed 500 troops to Milan and enacted new security laws following recent riots in Milan and other Italian cities, which left more than 100 law enforcement officers injured[1][3][16]. These measures significantly expand state powers and introduce new criminal offenses, altering legal protections for minors and raising concerns about civil liberties[7][8][9].

What the records show

On Tuesday, the Italian cabinet approved a series of security measures, including the deployment of 500 soldiers to Milan, who will patrol the city until the end of 2026[3][9][12][13]. The new legislation establishes a specific offense for “violent participation in a demonstration,” punishable by up to five years in prison and fines reaching €20,000[1][8][9][10][11]. Penalties increase if offenders cover their faces or injure others during protests[8][9][11]. Parents will now be held financially responsible for damages caused by their minor children during unrest[1][8][9][10]. The decree also makes the detention of minors easier and automatically presumes that individuals aged 14 and above are capable of understanding their actions, a determination previously made by a judge[3][6][8][9][12][16]. Over the weekend, looting and violence in Milan led to more than 100 police officers sustaining injuries[14][16].

The timeline

Riots swept northern Italian cities, including Milan, over the weekend, with groups of young people smashing windows, looting shops, and clashing with police[9][13]. Luxury shops in Milan closed due to these protests[1]. In response to the unrest, the government’s Council of Ministers approved the new security decree on Tuesday, with the measures taking immediate effect[6][9][13]. The deployment of 500 army troops to Milan is scheduled to last until the end of 2026[9][12][13].

What changed and for whom

The new laws introduce greater legal risks for individuals participating in demonstrations, particularly those that turn violent, with potential prison sentences and large fines[12]. Families now face the possibility of parents being held financially liable for property damage caused by their minor children[10][12]. For minors aged 14 to 17, police powers have been expanded, allowing for detention even if a crime has not been committed, provided there is evidence they pose a danger[9][13]. Law enforcement authorities have gained additional resources with the deployment of troops and expanded powers regarding arrests and detentions[9][11].

What the subject has said publicly

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence, stating, “There is nothing revolutionary about vandalising and stealing. Vandalism and theft are not protest, they are criminality”[9][13]. She also remarked, “Demonstrating is a right. Turning our cities into battlegrounds is not”[19]. Meloni warned that anyone who harms or endangers others could face up to five years in prison[5]. The government had earlier vowed a “firm response from the state” to the unrest[1].

What we could not confirm

PrimaryBrief could not confirm the exact number of arrests made under the new security provisions or the total financial cost of damages incurred during the riots.