Photo: EPA
Shops closed amid fears of looting as authorities deployed additional police forces.
Protests against the rising cost of living took place across major Italian cities on October 24. Demonstrators clashed with police in Turin, Rome and Bologna, while authorities tightened security amid fears of a repeat of the previous weekend’s riots, Reuters reported.
Saturday’s demonstrations followed a week of unrest across Italy. Protesters rallied against the war and rising living costs. Large police contingents were deployed, and many shops closed preemptively to protect themselves from potential damage.
The demonstrations turned violent in Turin, Rome and Bologna, where protesters clashed with law enforcement. Protests in Milan were largely peaceful, with no reports of looting or property destruction during the latest rallies.
During the previous weekend’s unrest, demonstrators fought with police, looted shops and damaged property. Calls for new protests began circulating on social media this week, prompting authorities to introduce extensive security measures aimed at preventing further violence.
Earlier on Saturday, Italian police reported detaining a person suspected of links to the “October 17 Movement,” which was allegedly involved in organizing the previous weekend’s protests. The individual was taken to a police station in Milan for questioning as investigators examined possible links to the demonstrations.
Italian authorities are also investigating possible Russian involvement in violent protests in Milan and other European cities. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has requested information about the suspected role of foreign provocateurs, citing the severity of the attacks and signs of coordination among participants.
Meanwhile, mass demonstrations in France on October 24 were also accompanied by riots and clashes with police in several cities. The French government estimated that at least 400,000 people took to the streets, while trade unions put the figure at twice that number.
Near Porte de Vincennes at the end of a march in Paris, masked men threw bottles and stones at police. Officers responded with tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades.
