{
  "id": 15725840,
  "title": "Italy to send 500 troops to Milan after clashes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/italy-to-send-500-troops-to-milan-after-clashes",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T09:22:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/10/1559847/italy-send-500-troops-milan-after-clashes"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Italy is set to deploy 500 troops to Milan in response to recent looting and clashes between police and mostly young protesters. The deployment, which is expected to be approved by a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, will enable soldiers to temporarily support law enforcement in the city. The clashes, which occurred over two days on Saturday and Sunday, resulted in hundreds of protesters being detained and dozens of police officers being injured. Several luxury brands in Milan have closed their shops, with some remaining closed or beefing up security. Protests are anticipated to resume on Saturday. The government is also exploring a broader crackdown, which could include restrictions on public gatherings, relaxed rules for detaining minors, and harsher penalties for their parents. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described the clashes as \"shameful\" and hinted at immediate measures, including the troop deployment, during a radio interview. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed hope that the cabinet meeting would approve provisions allowing the army to function like law enforcement. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni characterized the violent perpetrators as \"thugs\" who exploit demonstrations to create chaos, attack security personnel, and hold cities hostage. She emphasized that while demonstrating is a right, causing destruction is not. The protests in Italy are primarily led by high school and university students, farmers, and truck drivers, and are mainly against the rising cost of living. These protests come as hard-right leader Meloni prepares for upcoming elections, where the state of the economy, security, and immigration are expected to be key issues.",
  "summary": "ROME: Italy is preparing to send 500 troops to Milan after looting and clashes between police and mostly young protesters, with some luxury brands shutting their shops in the city.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}