Andrea Innocenti Last night, the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office concluded an investigation involving thirty-year-old Youssef Siher , an ISPI researcher of Moroccan origin. Investigators detained him, accusing him of using the Telegram and Instagram channels M1710 to create a veritable state of intimidation among the population, linked to the October 17 Movement.
The arrest occurred after authorities deemed the messages spread online capable of inciting a 'riot' in Piazza Duomo.
Siher, a graduate in Communications and a Master's in Political Science from the University of Milan, worked as a research trainee at the ISPI Observatory on the Middle East and North Africa. His academic interests focus on political Islam, Islamic movements, and the relationship between Islam and Arab nationalism.
In addition to his academic career, he has collaborated with online newspapers such as Foglio and Fatto Quotidiano.
Youssef Siher's role in the M1710 network
According to investigations, it was Siher who created and managed the Telegram chat, which has more than 10 members . The group was used to coordinate the movement's members, disseminate operational instructions, and, in more than one case, invite participants "not to show up in Piazza Duomo" but to gather in predetermined locations at 14:30 PM, then converge in a "final square" an hour later.
These instructions, captured by investigative sources, have fueled fears of a possible repeat of the chaos that erupted last week in the Duomo area.
The chat of ten thousand members
The M1710 channel, as it was called, has been described as the organizational "brain" of the October 17 Movement . In addition to sharing logistical advice, the chat room spread messages that magistrates described as inciting violence and disrupting public order. The content of the messages, still under analysis, was deemed capable of creating a climate of widespread intimidation among citizens and pushing participants towards actions considered illegal.
The accusations of the Milan Prosecutor's Office
The order issued by the Prosecutor's Office mentions the aggravating circumstance of having acted with the intention of terrorism and the violation of Article 420-bis of the new decree, which punishes organized violence at public demonstrations. Siher was therefore charged with aggravated incitement to commit a crime . His partner is currently under investigation for the same crimes.
Institutional reactions
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi commented on social media that Siher's discovery by the police demonstrates the effectiveness of investigators and the state's commitment to combating those who attempt to hide behind the anonymity of social media. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto emphasized that Siher was not simply an outsider, but a figure within the elite of the Italian intelligentsia, with numerous collaborations in the academic and journalistic fields.
In light of these facts, the Youssef Siher case stands out as one of the most significant cases of digital control of protests in Milan in recent months, highlighting how online platforms can become tools of political incitement and, in certain contexts, collective intimidation.