Edward Marchesi On the afternoon of October 21, 2026, the Prefecture of Milan hosted the provincial committee for public order and security, convened following the clashes and looting that occurred in the city center last weekend. Present at the meeting were Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, Mayor Giuseppe Sala , Prefect Claudio Sgaraglia , and the heads of the police force, including Police Chief Vittorio Pisani.
Arrival of 500 soldiers and new freedom of movement
Minister Piantedosi confirmed the deployment of 500 troops to Milan, specifying that they will have greater freedom of movement than usual in other areas of the country. The operation, designed to ensure a widespread presence across the country, follows the same pattern already adopted in Rome, where military forces were authorized to move freely to respond rapidly to emergency situations.
Mobility coordinated with the city
According to Piantedosi, maximum mobility will allow for timely intervention both in the central neighborhoods and in the outskirts, where reports of looting have raised concerns. Prefect Sgaraglia emphasized that the use of drones and other surveillance technologies will support the troops' work, providing an "extra eye" to monitor the movements of groups of young people involved in vandalism.
Salvini: No hybrid warfare, luxury thefts, and parental responsibility
The deputy prime minister declared that the violence was not the result of a hybrid war or external intervention, but of young people intent on stealing valuables, such as shoes, designer clothes, and €1.700 cell phones . Salvini emphasized that the 343 people detained and the 50 arrested had no connection to political issues, the high cost of fuel, or the high cost of living; their sole purpose was to loot.
Concrete data on arrests and detentions
Over the weekend, law enforcement carried out 343 checks, resulting in 50 arrests . Salvini stated that, despite rumors of possible ties to France or Russia, there is no evidence of an external director. He also pointed the finger at parents, accusing them of failing to adequately supervise their children, urging them to "pay the consequences" of the decree approved the previous day.
Mayor Sala on management and risk for Saturday
Giuseppe Sala expressed concern about next Saturday, fearing a recurrence of incidents similar to those over the weekend. Sala called for a balance between the need for repression and avoiding the "psychosis" of closing shops, emphasizing that Milan is a city with a tradition of life in the squares and that commercial activity cannot be paralyzed.
Conclusions on the role of law enforcement
The mayor reiterated his support for the arrival of the 500 soldiers, calling them a dynamic component of public control. Sala also stated that, although the clashes were unexpected and "unprecedented," the police force demonstrated its ability to intervene quickly, as evidenced by the number of arrests and detentions. Collaboration between institutions, the military, and the city administration is now key to preventing further intrusions and ensuring that "nothing goes unpunished."