Meloni Condemns Violent Protests as Italy Reports 141 Injured Officers and 28 Arrests

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused organized groups of exploiting demonstrations over rising living costs after clashes in Milan, Bologna and Turin left police officers injured, businesses damaged and dozens facing criminal charges.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Italian authorities reported 141 injured law enforcement officers and 28 arrests following violent demonstrations across several northern cities Saturday, Oct. 17, prompting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to condemn attacks on police and demand that opposition leaders unequivocally reject the destruction.

The unrest was particularly severe in Milan, where masked demonstrators clashed with riot police near the city’s historic cathedral, broke into shops and damaged storefronts inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade.

Similar confrontations erupted in Bologna and Turin as demonstrations organized around rising living costs, fuel prices and public services expanded into wider disturbances.

Italy’s national police announced Sunday that 197 people had been identified and taken to police offices for questioning. Of those, 28 were arrested, including 12 minors, while another 43 were reported to judicial authorities. The figures cover Saturday’s disturbances and are separate from additional unrest reported Sunday. <Cite refs={[“turn820444search4″,”turn820444search11”]}/>

Meloni defended law enforcement personnel in a Sunday morning statement, accusing groups of using otherwise peaceful demonstrations as opportunities for confrontation.

“Once again, the women and men of the Law Enforcement Forces have had to face the violence of criminals who, even through organized groups, exploit demonstrations to seek confrontation and sow chaos,” she wrote on X.

The prime minister said officers had been protecting residents, workers and businesses when they came under attack.

“Because they were there to safeguard the safety of citizens, workers, merchants and all the people who have the right to live [in] their city without fear and without seeing it laid to waste and set ablaze by gangs of thugs,” she continued. “We stand with you.”

The demonstrations coincided with extensive unrest in neighboring France, where protests over education funding and living costs escalated into widespread looting, arson and attacks on government buildings.

In Italy, Saturday’s protests included labor organizations and groups associated with the Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro, or CGIL, one of the country’s largest trade union confederations.

However, authorities distinguished the broader demonstrations from groups accused of carrying out violence.

In Milan, confrontations intensified around Piazza del Duomo, where protesters threw stones, fireworks and other objects at officers. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons as tourists fled the square and nearby shops closed.

Groups of masked individuals entered the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a 19th-century landmark housing luxury retailers, breaking windows and reportedly stealing merchandise.

The nearby Duomo metro station was temporarily closed during the disturbances, while police attempted to clear surrounding streets.

The Associated Press reported that approximately 50 demonstrators, including minors, were detained during the initial Milan confrontation and at least two officers were injured.

Subsequent reports provided higher injury totals as authorities continued evaluating Saturday’s violence.

According to Euronews, 25 people were treated at Milan hospitals following the disturbances, including 10 police officers.

The unrest continued Sunday, when protesters again confronted police in central Milan. Riot officers deployed water cannons and tear gas during additional clashes involving stone-throwing and attacks on businesses. <Cite ref=”turn820444news2″/>

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, a center-left politician, condemned the violence while acknowledging the economic grievances behind the demonstrations.

“The reasons for the protests were understandable. The violence against law enforcement and serious damage to the city are not justifiable,” Sala told the Associated Press.

In Bologna, demonstrations escalated near the central railway station, forcing authorities to temporarily close the facility as police attempted to disperse crowds.

The police union reported that 56 officers were injured during the unrest. Initial reports also indicated that seven people were arrested following confrontations with security forces.

Police used water cannons to move demonstrators away from the station, according to Reuters.

Turin also experienced violent incidents, with authorities reporting approximately 30 arrests and injuries to around 100 officers in initial accounts of the disturbances.

Meloni said police had intercepted individuals carrying cobblestones and tools capable of smashing windows.

She criticized the attacks in a Saturday evening statement, emphasizing the distinction between lawful demonstrations and criminal conduct.

“Thugs who exploit demonstrations to sow chaos, attack those who ensure security and hold entire cities hostage… Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not,” she wrote.

The prime minister said she had “great respect for the thousands” who had participated peacefully, calling public demonstrations “the foundation of any healthy democracy.”

Nevertheless, she urged political leaders to acknowledge the seriousness of the violence and reject efforts to excuse attacks against police.

“I renew my request to the opposition: do not be ambiguous about this. Unequivocally condemn these acts of violence and issue a clear appeal for every mobilization to be peaceful,” Meloni said.

She also identified incidents across several cities, noting that in Milan “stones were thrown at the Law Enforcement Forces, officers were injured, damage and violence occurred that forced the interruption of the procession. In Turin, people were stopped carrying cobblestones and window-breaking hammers. In Bologna, the disorders led to the precautionary closure of the railway station.”

“In the face of scenes like these, the rejection must be unanimous,” she added. “Any hesitation becomes justification. Silence is not acceptable.”

Francesco Filini, a lawmaker from Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party and its national program coordinator, blamed organized left-wing extremists for the disturbances.

“It is no longer tolerable that every time left-wing extremists take to the streets, scenes of organized destruction unfold. We are not dealing with mere demonstrators, but with organized groups that plan violence,” Filini said in remarks reported by Il Sole 24 Ore.

Those accusations reflect the government’s political assessment; responsibility for individual acts of violence remains subject to police investigation and judicial proceedings.

Opposition figures have also condemned the attacks while criticizing the government’s handling of the demonstrations.

Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein said violent offenders should be held accountable but warned authorities against using their actions to overshadow peaceful protesters’ demands.

The disagreement comes as Italians face continued pressure from energy costs, inflation and concerns about public services.

The financial damage from Saturday’s disturbances is still being assessed. Italian news agency ANSA reported preliminary estimates of approximately 500,000 euros in Milan and another 500,000 euros in Bologna, bringing the combined total to roughly 1 million euros. <Cite ref=”turn820444search8″/>

Italian officials have pledged further investigations and prosecutions, including cases involving minors suspected of participating in the violence.

The government also faces questions about security preparations and whether police had sufficient personnel to manage multiple demonstrations.

Meloni’s administration is expected to discuss the disturbances during a government meeting Monday as protests continue in several cities.

The unrest has intensified political disagreements over policing and public spending, while authorities seek to distinguish those responsible for criminal acts from the thousands who demonstrated peacefully.

For Italy’s government, the immediate priorities are restoring public order, assessing damage and pursuing those accused of attacks. The economic grievances underlying the demonstrations, however, remain unresolved.