Andrea Innocenti On October 17, demonstrations organized by several trade unions demanding measures to combat the so-called "high cost of living" escalated into violent clashes in the three main cities of Northern Italy: Milan, Bologna, and Turin. The initially peaceful demonstrations were overrun by groups throwing stones, cobblestones, and even firecrackers at law enforcement, prompting the deployment of anti-disturbance units and the temporary closure of key urban intersections.
Milan and Turin: Squares Transformed into Battlefields
In the heart of Milan, the area around Piazza Duomo was the scene of attacks against police officers: protesters threw stones, broke windows, and attempted to run into containment corridors. Video released by the government shows officers injured and the crowd forced to retreat.
In Turin, the situation was equally dramatic: protesters used cobblestones and glass-breaking hammers to attack traffic police, forcing the authorities to temporarily block traffic in the area.
Statements from the Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni, awarding the police on X, stated: “ We cannot ignore what happened . Demonstrating is a right; setting our cities on fire is not.”
The video accompanying his message showed images of the clashes in Milan and stressed the need for unanimous condemnation from the opposition.
Bologna: Station closure and arrests of minors
The situation in Bologna was the most complex: the train station was closed at 22:00 PM due to improvised barricades, burning dumpsters, and a massive hail of cobblestones, bottles, and firecrackers. Four minors were arrested, while forty protesters were identified by authorities. In total, twelve officers were injured, ten of whom required emergency treatment.
Mayor Matteo Lepore called the scenes "unacceptable" and urged young people to distinguish between legitimate protest and violence: " Those who use violence discredit the protesters' arguments . We stand with the police who are trying to contain the situation, and we firmly condemn the damage to public property."
The responses of the political leaders
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, speaking on X, reiterated that "violence is not a right" and thanked law enforcement , calling them "servants of the state." Matteo Renzi, on his Facebook profile, distinguished young revolutionaries from gangs of hooligans, while Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini called for tougher measures, including the introduction of bail for demonstration organizers. The Lega leader proposed a law that would require organizers to be financially liable for damages caused.
All these statements converge on one common point: the need to unambiguously condemn acts of violence. As Minister Anna Maria Bernini emphasized, "demonstrating is a right, destroying cities is not." The appeal is clear: the authorities demand an unequivocal condemnation, so that future protests will be conducted exclusively peacefully.