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Clashes between rioters and police in Milan led to looting and fires, resulting in injuries and dozens of detentions. Similar unrest occurred in other Italian cities and France.
Rioters clashed with police, looted stores and set property on fire in central Milan on Saturday, October 17, 2026, during a protest against wars and rising living costs. The unrest emptied Piazza del Duomo and a luxury shopping arcade, areas that are typically crowded with shoppers. The central Duomo metro station was closed during the clashes.
The march began peacefully but turned violent when masked protesters threw stones, paving blocks and other objects at riot police. Protesters also set fire to barricades made from bar tables. Images of the aftermath showed a severely damaged carabinieri car. Police responded by using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
According to the LaPresse news agency, at least two police officers were injured and about 50 demonstrators, including many minors, were detained. The Times of Israel reported that the march included Palestinian flags and keffiyeh headscarves.
The violence in Milan was part of broader unrest in Italy. A police report on Sunday stated that a total of 28 protesters were arrested after similar clashes erupted on Saturday in northern cities including Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin. In Bologna, police used a water cannon to disperse crowds and made seven arrests after the protest became violent, according to the ANSA news agency.
On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Milan police clashed with protesters again. Sources with knowledge of the investigation told Reuters that several hundred hooded protesters broke shop windows and set bins on fire near central Piazza Duomo. More than 60 protesters were taken to the police station for further checks.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who is facing an election next year, condemned the violence in a social media post. “Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not,” she wrote, citing “hooligans who exploit demonstrations to sow chaos, attack those responsible for ensuring security and hold entire cities hostage.” Meloni announced a government meeting on Monday to discuss how to address the situation.
Milan’s center-left mayor, Giuseppe Sala, acknowledged the grievances behind the protests but rejected the violence. “The reasons for the protests were understandable. The violence against law enforcement and serious damage to the city are not justifiable,” Sala said.
The unrest in Italy coincided with nationwide demonstrations in neighboring France against rising living costs and in support of high school students’ grievances. French police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent protesters who joined the rallies. Reuters reported that hundreds of thousands of people in France took to the streets, resulting in some of the country's most violent protests in years.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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