A weekend of violent rioting and looting in Milan and other northern Italian cities was driven by a “hybrid war” waged against Western nations through unconventional channels, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto warned on Tuesday.
The unrest erupted after peaceful demonstrations over the cost of living and declining public services escalated into clashes with police, property vandalism, and widespread looting. Speaking on the nature of the disturbances, Crosetto argued that the events in Milan and across Italy differ fundamentally from historical protests, pointing to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and other social media networks as unconventional tools of conflict.
While Crosetto did not explicitly name a perpetrator, European officials frequently use the term “hybrid warfare” to characterize Russian efforts to destabilize the continent through cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Crosetto cautioned that Western institutions have been slow to recognize and counter these threats, suggesting that young people may be absorbing alternative influences outside traditional educational and familial structures.
In response to the weekend turmoil, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration planned to approve sweeping new security measures on Tuesday. The government intends to accelerate provisions from an existing security bill currently under parliamentary scrutiny, focusing heavily on youth gangs and preventive detention for minors.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced that law enforcement officers would receive the authority to hold individuals under the age of 18 at police stations for up to 12 hours without a formal crime having been committed, provided there is evidence they present a danger. Additionally, Rome plans to deploy 500 extra army troops to Milan ahead of further demonstrations scheduled for Saturday.
Retailers across Milan have scrambled to protect their businesses following extensive ransacking over the weekend. Sports retailers Decathlon and Arc’teryx, alongside mobile phone operator Vodafone, were targeted during the unrest, while other prominent brands such as Levi’s and Under Armour covered their storefront windows. In the upscale Via Montenapoleone shopping district, luxury houses including Chanel, Tiffany, and Dior removed expensive merchandise from display windows out of concern for further violence.
Prime Minister Meloni strongly condemned the destructive actions, asserting that demonstrators have a right to protest, but setting cities ablaze is unacceptable. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani echoed those sentiments on social media, promising a firm government response against attacks on the state and youth-driven violence.
Italian police reported detaining 271 young people in Milan on Sunday alone. Out of those brought to stations, 32 individuals were formally arrested, comprising 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals, while another 28 people faced referral to judicial authorities. The Milan disturbances followed Saturday clashes that also affected Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo, and Turin, which resulted in 28 additional arrests.
The domestic turmoil in Italy mirrors similar unrest across neighboring France, where large demonstrations over living costs and public services also turned violent over the weekend. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu credited targeted curfews implemented in cities like Paris and Nice with restoring a degree of calm, announcing that local prefects and mayors would decide on further localized curfews.
