Security forces deploy as Milan braces for another day of protests

Milan, Italy – Protests have been called in eight Italian cities on Saturday to demonstrate against Giorgia Meloni's right-wing administration and the rising cost of living, a week after demonstrations in Milan spiralled into clashes with police and looting.

Key points

• Officers conducted another 150 raids on Saturday morning in the northern region of Lombardy.
• But on its Telegram channel, the October 17 Movement remarked numerous of those planning to demonstrate wanted to voice their dissent peacefully.
• It follows the announcement online of a new round of protests by a newly formed group calling itself the 'October 17 Movement'.
• In response to last weekend's looting, the administration unveiled a series of new security measures, including the deployment of 500 soldiers to Italy's financial hub.
• Some joined the protests after being unexpectedly continued to a Telegram group, Corriere della Sera noted.

It follows the announcement online of a new round of protests by a newly formed group calling itself the 'October 17 Movement'. It has been the main driver of demonstrations alongside student federations, grassroots trade unions, and antiwar coalitions.

"Those who deny our future are truly violent, " it remarked on Instagram. "We distrust this government because we see it as authoritarian."

On Friday, police carried out raids and searches in a number of cities, against residents suspected of taking part in looting and rioting in last weekend's protests, the Italian news agency Adnkronos documented. Officers conducted another 150 raids on Saturday morning in the northern region of Lombardy.

"We must be peaceful. If we offer an excuse, they will charge against us, " a participant identified as E stated on Thursday.

Others have stressed that there is no distinction between those who engage in violence and peaceful protesters. "It's just us, " remarked a member identified as Q.

Protesters decided to keep the location of the demonstration secret until the last minute. Three session points were anticipated to be confirmed on their social media accounts on Saturday afternoon.

In the meantime, police confirmed to Al Jazeera that they had located and were questioning the administrator of the group's Instagram page. According to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, he is a 30-year-old Italian-Moroccan freelance journalist and researcher. He is at present under investigation on suspicion of "inciting crimes".

Most of the protesters arrested on Sunday were particularly young. Of the 271 individuals arrested, 220 were under the age of 18.

"They said that they would raise chaos and we could take a lot of goods, " one of them remarked. Lawyer Michele D'Agostino is defending two demonstrators, aged 21 and 15.

" didn't even know the reasons behind the protest; he had just seen it on TikTok and decided to check it out with a friend, " D'Agostino informed Al Jazeera.

"He was not among the looters, but he did not realise the seriousness of what was happening, " he remarked.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor has blamed social media for misleading young individuals into taking part in what he described as "insurrectional acts".

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio informed Sky TG24 that there was a need to "expand the capacity of our youth detention facilities" in response to the mass arrests of residents under the age of 18.

Earlier this week, truck drivers set up roadblocks in a number of regions of southern Italy to protest soaring fuel costs, leaving plenty of markets without supplies for days. On Thursday, the administration sought to offer them some relief by granting tax breaks and establishing a special fund for farmers and fishermen.

For now, security forces deploy as Milan braces for another day of protests remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.