Italy stations 500 soldiers in Milan as prosecutors probe journalist over protest calls

220 minors were among the 271 people detained in Milan last Sunday, a figure that has driven the government’s immediate security response. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration announced the deployment of 500 soldiers to the city, which serves as Italy’s financial hub, following a week of clashes and looting.

The new military presence accompanies a series of raids conducted by police on Friday and Saturday. Officers targeted individuals suspected of participating in the recent unrest, with 150 searches taking place on Saturday morning in the Lombardy region, according to the news agency Adnkronos. These actions occur ahead of fresh protests planned for Saturday in eight Italian cities.

The demonstrations are organized by the October 17 Movement, a recently formed group that includes student federations, grassroots unions, and antiwar coalitions. The group announced the events online, stating on Instagram that they distrust the government because they view it as authoritarian. Organizers have kept the specific locations secret until the last minute, with three meeting points expected to be revealed on social media on Saturday afternoon.

Police are now questioning the administrator of the movement’s Instagram page. The Corriere della Sera identified him as a 30-year-old Italian-Moroccan freelance journalist and researcher. He is under investigation on suspicion of inciting crimes. A separate investigation by the public prosecutor has focused on how social media platforms may have misled young people into what officials described as insurrectional acts.

Legal representatives are highlighting the youth of the detainees. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino, who is defending a 21-year-old and a 15-year-old, told Al Jazeera that the teenager did not understand the reasons behind the protest. He had seen it on TikTok and decided to attend with a friend. D'Agostino noted that the minor was not among the looters but did not grasp the seriousness of the situation.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio addressed the mass arrests of minors in an interview with Sky TG24. He stated that the country needs to expand the capacity of its youth detention facilities. Separately, truck drivers in southern Italy set up roadblocks earlier this week to protest soaring fuel prices. The government responded on Thursday by granting tax breaks and creating a special fund for farmers and fishermen.