Lucrezia Ciotti After two days of clashes and looting in central Milan , Giorgia Meloni called a meeting at Palazzo Chigi to evaluate new security measures. The prime minister also took to social media, sharing a photo of police officer Angelo De Simone, injured during the violence, and reiterating the need to combat vandalism.
Meloni calls a meeting on public order after the clashes in Milan.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called a meeting at Palazzo Chigi for today, Monday, October 19, to address the issue of security following the serious riots that affected Milan over the weekend. The meeting will focus on measures to counter the violence and prevent the demonstrations from degenerating into acts of destruction.
The prime minister announced the initiative on social media, explaining that she wanted to " take stock of the situation and evaluate further measures against those who exploit legitimate demonstrations to sow violence and chaos ."
In her speech, Meloni reiterated the need to protect both citizens and those committed to ensuring public safety. " Defending citizens, those who live honestly, and those who ensure everyone's safety comes before any indulgence toward violent perpetrators ," she declared.
In support of her words, the Prime Minister shared on Instagram a photograph of Angelo De Simone , a police officer who was injured in the head during the clashes on Saturday 17 October in Piazza Duomo.
The image was accompanied by a message of solidarity with the police: " Uncovered, wounded, without retreating ." Meloni then contrasted the behavior of the officers with that of those who operate with their faces covered, emphasizing that " The State is not an abstract concept ," but is represented by people who continue to carry out their work with courage and a sense of duty even in the most difficult situations.
Milan, new looting in the city center: over 200 people arrested, many of them minors.
The situation in the Lombardy capital remained critical on Sunday, October 18, when new groups of youths targeted shops and businesses in the city center. Following the previous day's incidents, the violence again concentrated near the Duomo, with shop windows smashed, outdoor seating damaged, and a supermarket looted . Reported acts of vandalism also included overturned trash cans, thrown bicycles and scooters, and damaged cars. During the riots, some participants reportedly threw stones, bottles, and firecrackers at police, who also deployed water cannons to contain the most aggressive groups.
According to the information released, over 200 people were arrested and taken to the police station , with a particularly high presence of minors , estimated at around 80% . The groups reportedly moved in rapid and disorderly fashion: while some young people concentrated in one area of the square, others took advantage of the police's movement to strike elsewhere. The incidents also spread to Piazza Cairoli and Piazza Cordusio, while other interventions were carried out near the Central Station.
On Sunday afternoon, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reportedly met with the Chief of Police and the Interior Ministry to assess the incident, with Milan Police Chief Bruno Megale connected remotely. The minister apparently expressed gratitude to the officers for their work , attributing the disturbances to groups of hooligans, mostly minors, who had spontaneously organized themselves through social media. The meeting called by Meloni for today therefore represents a further institutional step to evaluate the state's response and identify tools to prevent further violence.
See this content on Instagram