Susanna Riva The case that led to Youssef Siher 's arrest unfolded amidst digital tracking and security investigations. The October 17 Movement , through Telegram and Instagram, had promoted protests in several cities; following last week's events, the postal police and the DIGOS (Italian Special Operations Unit) launched investigations that led to an arrest on Saturday morning in Milan.
The arrest in Milan and the role of his wife
At dawn on Saturday, October 24, officers intervened in an apartment on the outskirts of Milan where the 30-year-old, formally resident in the province of Brescia , was being held . The young man was then transferred to San Vittore prison . During the investigation, the postal police reconstructed that the group's pages were managed by two administrators: Siher and his wife.
The 32-year-old woman is being investigated along with her husband for incitement to commit a crime; according to investigators, it was her phone that allowed officers to locate the 30-year-old's home on Saturday morning.
The couple, married last September , appear to have different registered residences: he has ties to the Brescia area, she formally in Como , but they apparently lived together in the province of Milan.
Ongoing investigations include analyzing electronic devices to reconstruct the movement's contacts, communications, and organizational methods.
Digital tracking, Aisi and collaboration with Meta
To identify the administrator of the social media accounts that had promoted the protests, the Postal Police initiated technical investigations and requested Meta 's collaboration in monitoring the group's Instagram account. At the same time, a task force of security agencies, including AISI units , cross-referenced information that helped narrow down the 30-year-old's identity. This combination of intelligence and technical activity allowed the suspect to be located even when his phone was turned off.
Numbers and message diffusion
Initial findings suggest that the movement's messages could have reached an estimated total audience of around 150,000 people: 100,000 on Telegram and 50,000 on Instagram . Protest directions were intended for users in at least eight cities , but many messages were blocked by the postal police and the DIGOS (Italian Special Operations Unit) before they could be translated into actual protests.
Proceedings and profile of the suspect
The 30-year-old is under investigation for aggravated incitement to commit a crime and, based on the investigation's developments, has also been booked for crimes related to organizing violence at public demonstrations. Milan prosecutor Francesca Crupi has announced her intention to request the validation of the arrest on Monday, October 26th; a validation hearing will be scheduled after the documents have been forwarded to the preliminary investigations judge.
The 30-year-old's professional profile includes freelance journalism, including reporting to Il Fatto Quotidiano , and research. Analysis is now focusing on the seized devices: from the cell phone and computer, investigators intend to reconstruct the group's network of contacts and coordination methods.
Parallel investigations and searches
In addition to the arrest in Milan, the investigative efforts included searches and checks at several locations connected to the 30-year-old. The agencies involved in the operation remain the Postal Police , the Digos (Special Operations Unit), and the intelligence agencies that provided input. The investigations will continue with the analysis of digital data to determine the degree of responsibility and the suspect's potential personal contact network.
The case illustrates how, in complex operations, the intersection of technical tools and intelligence information can determine the outcome of investigations. The focus remains on examining communications and determining who is responsible for the warnings circulated on the October 17 Movement 's channels.