Italy deploys soldiers, police as thousands protest across major cities

Italian security forces deployed soldiers and police in force across major urban centres as young protesters took to the streets on Saturday. In Milan, the demonstration proceeded without significant incident despite the heavy military and police presence, with luxury boutiques boarded up as a precaution. By late afternoon, most shops had reopened as the situation remained calm, according to Italian media reports.

Rome and Turin experienced brief confrontations between demonstrators and police, though the deployment of additional security personnel appeared to have curtailed the scale of disorder compared to protests held the previous week. Police attributed much of the earlier violence to minors among the protester ranks.

In response to the unrest, Premier Giorgia Meloni announced a series of measures aimed at preventing further disturbances. These include the deployment of an additional 500 soldiers to Milan and the implementation of tougher penalties for juvenile offenders involved in protest-related violence. Police also detained several minors in Milan as a preventive measure, media reported.

The demonstrations form part of broader protest activity across Europe, with demonstrations in France drawing significant international attention. Saturday's coordinated action across Italian cities reflects wider discontent among young people across the continent.