Follow-Up: Protests Sweep Italian Cities Again on Saturday: Clashes in Turin, Rome and Bologna, Milan Largely Peaceful
Major Italian cities saw another round of protests against war and rising living costs on Saturday, October 24, with incidents of violence in some cities, a week after unrest erupted across the country. According to Reuters, the demonstrations turned violent in Turin, Rome and Bologna, with clashes between officers and demonstrators, while they were largely peaceful in Milan.
Authorities deployed a heavy police presence and many shops closed as a precaution against possible damage. Reuters witnesses did not observe any shops being looted or property vandalised, a contrast with last weekend, when looting and vandalism occurred in several places. After calls for further demonstrations circulated on social media this week, authorities made extensive security arrangements and deployed large numbers of police officers to prevent a repeat of last weekend's violence.
Earlier on Saturday, Italian police said they had detained a person allegedly linked to organising the 'October 17 Movement' behind last weekend's protests, and had taken them to police headquarters in Milan for questioning.
The current wave began on October 17, when 13 Italian cities held same-day protests over the cost of living and clashes erupted at Milan's cathedral square, where police fired tear gas. Unrest continued for days afterwards: luxury stores in central Milan boarded up their windows and 271 people were taken in for questioning. On October 20, Italy's cabinet approved a security decree taking immediate effect, stiffening penalties for violent participation in demonstrations by groups of five or more and sending additional soldiers to Milan through the end of the year. Saturday's protests took place against that backdrop.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：意大利都灵（Turin）城堡广场（Piazza Castello）资料照片，非本次抗议现场。照片：Fred Romero 摄，CC BY 2.0，经维基共享资源。 / File photo: Piazza Castello in Turin, Italy; not a scene from these protests. Photo by Fred Romero, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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- 2026-10-24Follow-Up: Protests Sweep Italian Cities Again on Saturday: Clashes in Turin, Rome and Bologna, Milan Largely PeacefulThis story
