Police maintained a heavy presence in Milan's central Piazza del Duomo, as Italy said it will approve new security measures on Tuesday (October 20) targeting minors, after violent unrest and looting over the weekend.

Under the crackdown, law enforcers will be allowed to detain people under the age of 18 at police stations for 12 hours, even if they have not committed a crime, provided there is evidence they pose a danger, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said.

Last weekend, several hundred hooded protesters, many believed to be minors, set bins ablaze and ransacked shops in the centre of Milan and other cities following initial peaceful demonstrations over poor public services and rising costs.

Rome will also deploy an additional 500 army troops in Milan as authorities fear more unrest at demonstrations planned for this Saturday (October 24).

The disturbances echoed riots in neighbouring France, where hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in some of the country's most violent protests in years.

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Italy to boost police arrest powers in response to weekend riots

VIDEO SHOWS: SECURITY MEASURES IN MILAN AFTER WEEKEND CLASHES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (OCTOBER 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. ARMY VEHICLE NEAR DUOMO SQUARE

2. DUOMO SQUARE AND CATHEDRAL

3. SOLDIERS WALKING IN SQUARE / TOURISTS

4. TOURISTS / LOCAL POLICE IN SQUARE

5. DUOMO SQUARE AND CATHEDRAL

6. VARIOUS OF TOURISTS AND LOCAL POLICE IN SQUARE

7. SOLDIERS IN SQUARE

8. VARIOUS OF BROKEN SHOP WINDOWS

9. VARIOUS OF TOURISTS INSIDE GALLERIA VITTORIO EMANUELE II

10. POLICE VEHICLE IN SQUARE

11. POLICEMEN IN SQUARE

12. DUOMO CATHEDRAL AND LOCAL POLICE CAR

13. POLICEMAN WALKING

14. BROKEN SHOP WINDOWS

15. VARIOUS OF SOLDIER STANDING NEAR CASTELLO SFORZESCO