Edward Marchesi Last Saturday and Sunday, the streets of Milan and other major cities were invaded by gangs of hooded youths, who smashed the windows of luxury shops and stole sneakers and accessories. The incidents, characterized by sudden and coordinated violence, immediately triggered a national alarm , with law enforcement officials working to prevent further looting tomorrow.
Authorities have reported the presence of approximately 500 paratroopers sent under the latest security decree to protect Milan's shopping malls, while in Rome, around 10 people are expected to participate in the national peace demonstration. Across the country, police are constantly monitoring messages spread on WhatsApp and other channels, where young people, mostly between the ages of 14 and 24, are calling for a "rash" of shop windows and stores.
Police operations in Como and Bari
Late yesterday evening, the Como Digos (Italian Special Operations Unit) began a series of searches of around thirty young people , mostly minors, suspected of using WhatsApp groups to coordinate the raids planned for tomorrow in the Como city center. The suspects, aged between 14 and 24, include Italians, second-in-laws of immigrants, and a few foreigners.
The measure was classified as incitement to commit a crime aimed at looting , with the additional charge of possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives.
Searches and incitement charges in Como
The searches, anticipated by local media, targeted homes, schools, and youth gathering places. Investigators seized cell phones, text messages, and documents containing instructions for hacking communications and tips on evading police checkpoints. Security was also increased at train stations in the province, ahead of Como 1907's home match against Sassuolo.
At the same time, in Bari, the District Anti-Mafia Directorate and the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office launched a large-scale operation against a group of young people identified as planning to target high-fashion, sports, and electronics stores in the city center (Via Sparano, Via Melo, Via Argiro, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele). Authorities intercepted messages promising weapons and burglary tools, with the goal of carrying out further looting the following day.
The demonstrations scheduled for tomorrow
The October 17 Movement has scheduled a meeting at 15:00 PM in eight Italian squares: Bologna (Piazza Nettuno), Milan (Piazza Duomo), Turin (Piazza Castello), Rome (Circus Maximus), Florence (Piazza Santa Maria Novella), Padua (Piazza Mazzini), Bari (Piazza Umberto I), and Genoa (Piazza De Ferrari). The organizers declare a "permanent mobilization against the government of the bosses," with the ability to escalate from peaceful protest to violent clashes in a matter of minutes.
In Milan, in addition to the 500 paratroopers , police have set up barricades to protect the windows of luxury shops. In Rome, the "Italy Out of War" demonstration is expected to attract around 10 participants, with a right-wing student march at 14:00 PM in Piazza della Repubblica. Turin, Padua, and Bari have announced rallies at the same time, with anti-war slogans and demands for social justice.
The role of social media and the October 17 Movement
Recruitment occurs almost exclusively online: TikTok accounts like “Ilvucumpra” have launched invitations to free clothing exchanges, generating gatherings of around thirty young people in Vicenza and thousands in Milan. The groups share manuals such as the PDF “Recipes for Chaos – Urban Resistance Manual” (2004) and pocket guides illustrating how to avoid police checks , hide one's identity, and use contradictory symbols to confuse investigators.
Anarchist organizations and social centers are watching closely, fearing a possible alliance with the new protagonists. Security forces, however, believe that most young people are not driven by ideology, but by a nihilistic logic and a quest for adrenaline, making them easily influenced by violent acts.
The combination of digital coordination , the presence of reinforced security forces, and a network of young people ready for action makes the situation extremely volatile. Authorities have stated that, so far, there appears to be no central leadership of foreign groups, but vigilance remains high to prevent the protests from turning into new waves of looting.