Milan luxury shops close for fear of further unrest, gov't prepares new crackdown

Milan - In central Milan, shops closed early and boarded up their windows on Monday, anticipating more unrest following two days of protests that involved clashes between demonstrators and police, looting of stores, and property damage. Most establishments in the high-end Via Montenapoleone shopping district, which houses brands like Chanel, Tiffany, and Dior, removed merchandise from their windows as a precautionary measure.

Police officers kept a watchful presence along the street, while a small number of tourists observed the situation. Several hundred hooded protestors, many of whom were reportedly minors, set bins on fire and looted shops throughout the city center during the weekend following an initially peaceful demonstration on Saturday. The protests were sparked by dissatisfaction with public services and rising costs.

Stores such as Levi's, Under Armour, and Decathlon covered their shop windows with cardboard and wooden panels. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who will face a national election next year, condemned the violence and convened a meeting with government officials to discuss potential new crackdown measures.