More than 200 people were detained by police during riots in central Milan on Saturday and Sunday. Protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the quality of services, while around 80 percent of those detained were reportedly minors.
Clashes began on Saturday and continued on Sunday. By Sunday afternoon, up to 2,000 people had gathered in Piazza del Duomo, the square next to Milan Cathedral. Most were dressed in black, and some participants wore hats.
During the unrest, participants smashed the windows of shops and restaurants, damaged street benches, and threw chairs and stones. They also set fire to rubbish bins.
The fact that most of those involved were minors is one of the most unusual aspects of the incident. However, this information alone is not enough to determine what role minors played in the riots or what motivated them to take part in the protest.
Dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the quality of services suggests that the reasons people took to the streets were linked to everyday concerns, but the distinction between protest and violence remains significant. Damage to shops and restaurants also harms people who may have had no connection to the demonstrations at all. The available information does not clarify whether everyone detained was involved in damaging property or whether others were also among those taken into custody.
