Milan luxury shops close as Italy prepares to deploy troops after protests

Government announces 500 troops to 'defend Milan' after weekend of looting and clashes

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Updated20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

Italy will send 500 army troops to Milan as part of a security crackdown following two days of unrest that saw demonstrators clash with police, loot shops and vandalise property. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced the deployment on Monday, with shops in the city's luxury shopping district boarding up their windows and removing merchandise as a precaution against further violence.

The deployment of troops is expected to be approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to Salvini, who wrote on social media: 'From words to action: 500 more troops to defend Milan.'

The unrest, which began with a peaceful demonstration on Saturday over poor public services and rising living costs, escalated into clashes with police, arson and looting. Television footage showed stores including Decathlon, Arc'teryx, and Vodafone ransacked. Brands such as Levi's, Under Armour and Decathlon covered their windows with cardboard and panels.

Italian police said 271 young people were detained during the unrest on Sunday, with 32 arrested—including 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals—and a further 28 reported to judicial authorities. The weekend violence followed clashes in other northern cities including Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin, where 28 were arrested.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who faces a national election next year, condemned the violence and chaired a crisis meeting with ministers and security chiefs. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that 'the government will respond firmly to these attacks on the state,' including measures to curb violence by minors. Reports suggest Meloni is considering extending preventive detention for minors and cracking down on youth gangs.

The protests echo unrest in neighbouring France, where hundreds of thousands took to the streets on Saturday over similar grievances.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The deployment of troops to a major European financial hub signals a hardening of state response to social unrest and could set a precedent for other countries facing similar protests.
The involvement of large numbers of minors in the violence raises questions about youth disenfranchisement and the adequacy of public services.
With a national election due next year, the government's handling of the crisis will have direct political consequences for Prime Minister Meloni's coalition.

Background

The weekend protests in Milan were sparked by frustration over poor public services and rising costs of living—grievances that have driven demonstrations across Europe in recent years. Italy's economy has faced inflationary pressures, and public dissatisfaction has grown. Similar unrest occurred in France the same weekend, with hundreds of thousands protesting over comparable issues, and in other Italian cities such as Bologna, Turin and Brescia.

Key Perspectives

Italian Government: Officials led by Salvini and Meloni frame the unrest as a direct challenge to state authority requiring a firm security response, including military deployment and stricter measures against minors. Protesters: Demonstrators initially called attention to declining public services and rising costs. While a minority engaged in violence, the underlying grievances reflect broader discontent with economic pressures and government spending priorities. Critics/Skeptics: Extending preventive detention for minors may raise civil liberties concerns and does not address the root causes of social unrest. The crackdown risks inflaming tensions ahead of the election.

What to Watch

The cabinet meeting on Tuesday and the full package of security measures announced.
The response from opposition parties and civil society groups to the troop deployment and youth detention proposals.
Whether further protests erupt in Milan or other Italian cities in the coming days.

Sources

Italy Set to Tighten Rules As Milan Luxury Shops Lock Up Early - Bloomberg.com · "site:bloomberg.com when:1d" - Google News
Milan luxury shops close as Italy prepares to deploy troops in the city after days of protests · World news | The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

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Partly supportedHeadline: Milan luxury shops close as Italy prepares to deploy troops after protestsWorld news | The Guardian: “shops in central Milan closed early and boarded up their windows, fearing a fresh outbreak of violence”
Partly supportedSummary: Government announces 500 troops to 'defend Milan' after weekend of looting and clashesWorld news | The Guardian: “deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday”
SupportedItaly will send 500 army troops to Milan following two days of unrest with demonstrators clashing with police and looting shopsWorld news | The Guardian: “Italy’s government will dispatch 500 army troops to “defend Milan” after two days ⁠of unrest that saw demonstrators ⁠clash with police, loot shops and vandalise property”
SupportedSalvini wrote on social media: 'From words to action: 500 more troops to defend Milan.'World news | The Guardian: ““From words to action: 500 more ⁠troops to defend Milan,” Salvini, head of the co-ruling right-wing League party, wrote on social media.”
Partly supportedThe troop deployment is expected to be approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to SalviniWorld news | The Guardian: “The deployment is expected to be included in a package of security measures to be approved at ⁠a cabinet meeting expected on Tuesday”
SupportedThe protests began with a peaceful demonstration on Saturday over poor public services and rising living costsWorld news | The Guardian: “an initially peaceful demonstration on Saturday over poor public services and rising costs”
SupportedTelevision footage showed Decathlon, Arc'teryx and Vodafone stores ransackedWorld news | The Guardian: “Among the stores ransacked were sports retailers Decathlon and Arc’teryx and mobile phone operator Vodafone, television footage showed.”
SupportedPolice said 271 young people were detained during the unrest in Milan on SundayWorld news | The Guardian: “Italian ⁠police said it had detained 271 young people during unrest in Milan on Sunday.”
Supported32 were arrested, including 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals, with a further 28 reported to judicial authoritiesWorld news | The Guardian: “Of those taken to police stations, 32 were arrested, including 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals, police said on Monday. A further 28 people were reported to judicial authorities.”
Partly supportedClashes in Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin, where 28 were arrestedWorld news | The Guardian: “where 28 protesters were arrested, according to a police report released on Sunday”
Partly supportedMeloni condemned the violence and chaired a crisis meeting with ministers and security chiefsWorld news | The Guardian: “condemned the violence and chaired a meeting with ministers and security chiefs on Monday to discuss the situation”
SupportedForeign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that 'the government will respond firmly to these attacks on the state'World news | The Guardian: ““The government will respond firmly to these attacks on the state, including through measures aimed at curbing violence by minors,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani”