Milan luxury shops close for fear of further unrest, gov't prepares new crackdown
MILAN — Shops in central Milan closed early and boarded up their windows on Monday, fearing a new wave of unrest after two days of protests that saw demonstrators clash with police, loot stores and vandalise property. Most stores in Milan's Via Montenapoleone luxury shopping district, home to brands including Chanel, Tiffany and Dior, had removed merchandise from their windows as a precaution,…
MILAN — In the wake of two days of protests that escalated into violent clashes, shops in central Milan began to close early and fortify their premises against potential further unrest. The Via Montenapoleone luxury shopping district, known for housing renowned brands such as Chanel, Tiffany, and Dior, experienced a wave of precautionary measures.
Merchandise was removed from storefront windows, creating an empty display. Police presence intensified, patrolling the streets to deter any potential trouble. Amidst the chaos, several hundred hooded protesters, believed to be mostly minors, torched bins and looted various shops in the city center. This violent behavior followed an initially peaceful demonstration held on Saturday, which protested issues related to public services and rising costs.
Amongst the targeted establishments were sports retailers like Decathlon and Arc teryx, as well as mobile phone operator Vodafone. Television footage documented the destruction, with stores including Levi s, Under Armour, and Decathlon boarding up their windows with cardboard and wooden panels to protect their inventory. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is set to face a national election next year, strongly condemned the violence and convened a meeting with government officials to discuss potential new crackdowns to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
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