Meloni calls emergency security meeting after violent cost-of-living protests in Milan

More than 200 people detained over weekend clashes, most of them minors, as rioting spreads to other northern cities

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to hold an emergency security meeting on Monday after protests over the rising cost of living descended into violent clashes in Milan over the weekend, with more than 200 people detained and rioting spreading to other cities in the north.

More than 5,000 people gathered across the weekend in Milan, where police deployed tear gas and water cannons after protesters, many wearing masks, threw paving stones, bins and chairs at officers. Clashes began on Saturday and continued into Sunday.

"To demonstrate is a right. To lay our cities to waste is not," Meloni said on Saturday, adding that "hooligans" had exploited the protests to "sow chaos". The rioting broke out on the sidelines of mostly peaceful youth-led protests that have also occurred in France, Spain and Albania.

Milanese Mayor Giuseppe Sala said he was worried the violence was a "new phenomenon" that "originates from an international scenario and therefore feeds itself". Speaking to Italian news agency Ansa, he described witnessing "smashed shop windows, looted stores, and frightened citizens", and said "what happened here is what we are seeing in many cities around the world".

More than 200 people were detained, 80% of whom were minors, Ansa reported. The city's prosecutor's office has requested prison sentences for five adults arrested for looting, vandalism and resisting arrest, according to Italian news agency AGI. Italian media reported that people, including police officers, were injured.

Violence between protesters and police also rippled into other northern cities. Meloni said people in Turin were detained while "carrying cobblestones and window-breaking hammers", while a train station in Bologna was closed as a precaution after similar disorder.

The prime minister, who faces an election next year, also called on her political opponents to condemn the rioting. "Do not be ambiguous about this," she said on X, explaining that condemnation must be "unanimous" because "any hesitation becomes justification".

Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein said her party had always condemned violence and that the rioting should not be used to stifle the voices of peaceful protesters across the country who are struggling to make a living, Ansa reported.

The violent disorder followed anti-government protests held by students in various Italian cities on Friday, and echoed similar unrest in neighbouring France, where hundreds of thousands took to the streets.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The unrest signals growing public anger over the rising cost of living in Italy, a year before Meloni faces a national election.
The disorder mirrors similar violence in France, Spain and Albania, suggesting a pattern of youth-led protest turning to rioting across Europe.
The police response and detentions, with 80% of those held being minors, raise questions about how authorities handle protest movements.

Background

The clashes came after anti-government student protests in various Italian cities on Friday. Milan saw crowds of more than 5,000 gather over the weekend, with police using tear gas and water cannons against protesters who threw objects at officers. Violence also spread to other northern cities, including Turin and Bologna. The unrest follows similar scenes in France, where hundreds of thousands took to the streets and riots led to vandalism and looting in Paris.

Key Perspectives

Giorgia Meloni: The prime minister framed the violence as the work of "hooligans" exploiting legitimate protest, and demanded unanimous condemnation from political opponents, warning that "any hesitation becomes justification". Giuseppe Sala: The Milanese mayor views the disorder as a "new phenomenon" fed by an international climate of unrest, visible across many cities worldwide. Elly Schlein and the Democratic Party: The opposition leader insists her party has always condemned violence but warns the rioting should not be used to silence peaceful protesters struggling to make a living.

What to Watch

The outcome of Monday's emergency security meeting and any new measures announced for handling protests.
The court cases and sentences requested for the five adults arrested for looting and vandalism.
Whether the violence spreads further or subsides as cost-of-living pressures continue into the election year.

Sources

Italian PM Meloni to hold emergency meeting after weekend of violent clashes · BBC News

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12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

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Partly supportedMeloni calls an emergency security meeting (headline)BBC News: “Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to hold an emergency security meeting on Monday after protests over the rising cost of living broke out into violent clashes in Milan.”
Partly supportedMore than 200 people detained over weekend clashes, most of them minors (summary)BBC News: “More than 200 people were detained, 80% of whom were minors, Ansa reported.”
SupportedRioting spreading to other northern cities (summary)BBC News: “Violence between protesters and police also rippled into other cities in the north.”
SupportedProtests over the rising cost of living became violent clashes in Milan (headline framing)BBC News: “protests over the rising cost of living broke out into violent clashes in Milan.”
SupportedMeloni: 'To demonstrate is a right. To lay our cities to waste is not', said on Saturday, saying hooligans exploited the protests to 'sow chaos'BBC News: “"To demonstrate is a right. To lay our cities to waste is not," Meloni said on Saturday, adding that "hooligans" had exploited the protests to "sow chaos".”
SupportedMayor Sala said the violence was a 'new phenomenon' that 'originates from an international scenario and therefore feeds itself'BBC News: “Milanese Mayor Giuseppe Sala said he was worried it was a "new phenomenon" that "originates from an international scenario and therefore feeds itself".”
SupportedSala described 'smashed shop windows, looted stores, and frightened citizens' to AnsaBBC News: “Speaking to Italian news agency Ansa, he said he witnessed "smashed shop windows, looted stores, and frightened citizens"”
SupportedMore than 5,000 people gathered across the weekend in MilanBBC News: “More than 5,000 people gathered over the weekend.”
SupportedThe city's prosecutor's office requested prison sentences for five adults arrested for looting, vandalism and resisting arrest, per AGIBBC News: “The city's prosecutor's office has requested prison sentences for five adults arrested for looting, vandalism and resisting arrest, according to Italian news agency AGI.”
SupportedMeloni said people in Turin were detained 'carrying cobblestones and window-breaking hammers'BBC News: “Meloni said people in Turin were detained while "carrying cobblestones and window-breaking hammers"”
SupportedMeloni, on X: 'Do not be ambiguous about this'; condemnation must be unanimous because 'any hesitation becomes justification'BBC News: “"Do not be ambiguous about this," she said on X, explaining that condemnation must be "unanimous" because "any hesitation becomes justification".”
SupportedA train station in Bologna was closed as a precaution after similar disorderBBC News: “a train station in Bologna was closed as a precaution after similar disorder.”