Susanna Riva On Saturday, October 17, the "Italy in the Square" demonstration, called to protest the high cost of living, took a dramatic turn in the Duomo area of Milan. The protesters, mostly young people with their faces covered, crossed Via Broletto and then dispersed along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, where tensions erupted.
In the afternoon, groups of hooded men smashed the windows of several shops, including the famous Foot Locker.
Some even ransacked a supermarket, throwing trash cans, bicycles, and e-scooters to the ground. Molotov cocktails , rocks, and bottles struck officers, forcing the police to respond with water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Widespread violence in the Duomo area
The police had to face a real urban guerrilla warfare.
In addition to smashing windows, garbage was set on fire, and a portable toilet and a bike-sharing service were set alight under the statue of Vittorio Emanuele. Some protesters even blocked access to the Duomo station , forcing passersby to take refuge inside the subway, which was partially closed.
Injured and medical interventions
According to emergency data, 25 people were rescued.
Eleven were transported to the emergency room at Niguarda Hospital, one to the Città Studi clinic, six to the Policlinico , five to the Fatebenefratelli , and two to the San Giuseppe hospital . No one was seriously injured, but emergency responders had to contend with numerous blows to the head from rocks and cobblestones thrown by protesters.
Damage to shops, vehicles and infrastructure
The damage was extensive: windows were broken, shops were looted , and Carabinieri vehicles, including armored vans, were damaged. In Piazza Mercanti, police vans had to contain further demonstrations, while on Via Vittorio Emanuele II, wheelbarrows loaded with cobblestones were seen being used as improvised weapons. ATM shelters and the windows of historic buildings also suffered serious damage.
Institutional responses and emergency measures
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called an emergency meeting on public order for Monday, October 19. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi met with police chiefs and the Milan police commissioner to assess countermeasures. At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister and Forza Italia secretary Antonio Tajani called a FI meeting on security, emphasizing the need to strengthen the "Safe Streets" initiatives in Milan. Among the injured officers, Chief of Police Angelo De Simone suffered a serious head wound from a cobblestone.
Overall, 200 youths were arrested, approximately 80% of whom were minors . Some ended up at the police station, while others were detained on site. The tense atmosphere left Piazza Duomo temporarily empty, with police still in riot gear to ensure the safety of residents and tourists.