Italian police clash with protesters in Milan and Bologna
Police used tear gas and water cannon as about 50 demonstrators were detained and two officers were injured, officials and news reports said.
- On Saturday, Oct 17, 2026, clashes erupted in Milan's Duomo square as masked protesters threw stones at Italian Police, forcing officers to deploy tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
- The march against wars and rising living costs began peacefully, but later turned violent as rioters looted shops, set fires to barricades, and emptied the Piazza del Duomo.
- Police detained about 50 demonstrators, including many minors, while at least two officers were injured and the Duomo metro station was forced to close during the unrest.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence, describing perpetrators as "hooligans who exploit demonstrations to sow chaos," while Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala termed the destruction unjustifiable.
- Mirroring events in France and Bologna, where police made seven arrests, the violence reflects broader European civil disobedience patterns driven by economic strain and rising costs.
108 Articles
108 Articles
Italian police have recently used tear gas to attack demonstrators who threw stones and other objects at the square in front of Milan's cathedral, Italian media reported.
Meloni decries violent demonstrations as Italian police clash with protesters in Milan, Bologna
The clashes echoed the violence in neighboring France, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday in some of the country's most violent protests in years.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence, saying that the right to protest does not mean turning cities into battlefields.
BT
Italian citizens have been demonstrating against the high cost of living, leading to several clashes with the police.
Duomo Square in the city center of Milan has turned into a battlefield, with protesters and police clashing on Saturday afternoon. The square has been closed off.
They protested against rising consumer prices.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 36% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
