Italy's government is deploying 500 soldiers to Milan and pledging a "firm response from the state" following protests against the cost of living that escalated into clashes with police, vandalism and looting, The Guardian reports.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government plans to rapidly approve stricter security measures, according to Italian media cited by The Guardian. These include extending preventive detention for minors, intensifying crackdowns on youth gangs and banning gatherings deemed a threat to public order.
The deployment comes as further demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday. France has also announced it will deploy military forces, suggesting the unrest extends beyond Italy into a broader wave of European protests over living costs.
The Guardian notes that Meloni leads a far-right government, providing context on the political leadership making these security decisions. The newspaper's report does not provide details on the scale of the looting or vandalism, the number of police clashes, or the total size of the protest movement.