Italy deploys troops to ‘defend Milan’ from looting

The government is sending 500 soldiers to the city after two days of riots left dozens arrested and more than €1 million in damage The Italian government is sending 500 soldiers to Milan to protect the city from further looting and violence after two days of riots left shops ransacked, police officers injured and hundreds of people detained.Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced the deployment on Monday as luxury boutiques in Italy’s financial capital shut their doors and removed merchandise from display windows, fearing another wave of unrest.“From words to action: 500 more troops to defend Milan,” Salvini, who leads the right-wing League party, wrote on social media.Dalle parole ai fatti! ✅ https://t.co/eAZVJjzzEx— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) October 19, 2026The announcement followed an emergency security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose government is preparing tougher measures against violent protesters and youth gangs. The unrest erupted over the weekend during demonstrations against soaring living costs and deteriorating public services. Initially peaceful rallies descended into clashes as hundreds of hooded youths attacked police, set barr...