Italy is preparing for widespread cost-of-living protests on 24 October, with thousands of police officers and soldiers set to be deployed across major cities amid concerns about a repeat of the violence reported during demonstrations on 17 and 18 October.
Authorities are increasing security measures in Rome, Milan and other urban centres, with drones, surveillance operations and additional personnel expected to support efforts to manage both planned marches and gatherings announced online. Protests are also expected in France, as public anger over rising living costs fuels demonstrations in both countries.
In Italy, planned mobilisations include marches, sit-ins, assemblies and strikes in cities such as Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Turin, Rome and Florence. According to Mappa della rivolta, a website that tracks protest initiatives, more than 30 mobilisations have been scheduled nationwide.
Rome is preparing one of its largest security operations for the demonstrations, with around 1,500 officers expected to be deployed. The city’s police headquarters has developed a plan covering officially notified events as well as spontaneous rallies promoted through social media. Security checks are expected to extend beyond public squares to railway stations and other locations where crowds may gather.
The operation will involve regular public-order units, drones operated by the State Police’s 1st Flight Department and aircraft from the Carabinieri, one of Italy’s national law enforcement forces. The use of aerial surveillance reflects authorities’ efforts to monitor the movement of demonstrators and respond to potential incidents as they develop.
Authorities are also monitoring online activity linked to the demonstrations. Rome’s Cybersecurity Centre is working with Digos, the State Police division responsible for investigations involving public order and security, to track social media posts and other digital activity connected to the planned rallies.
The online circulation of advice on preparing for confrontations with police has added another challenge for security officials. Guides shared on Telegram, TikTok and Instagram reportedly include suggestions about carrying water and painkillers, using vinegar in response to tear gas exposure, and choosing clothing for situations in which clashes may occur. The circulation of such material has raised concerns about the possibility of disorder during demonstrations, although the presence of these posts does not in itself establish that violence will occur.
Milan is preparing a separate large-scale security operation. Around 1,000 police officers and Carabinieri, 300 municipal police officers and 500 soldiers are expected to be deployed, bringing the total to approximately 1,800 personnel. The deployment follows a new government security decree that provides for the use of additional troops in the city after recent violent incidents.
Drones will also be used to monitor demonstrations in Milan. Organisers of authorised marches will be required to keep their events away from the Duomo, the city’s central cathedral and a major public gathering point. Protests have also been banned in the Garibaldi and Porta Venezia districts, according to the security arrangements outlined ahead of Saturday’s events.
In Turin, demonstrators are expected to gather for a march organised by activists associated with the antagonista movement, including groups linked to the former Askatasuna social centre, alongside members of the 17 October Movement and students. The march is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in Piazza Arbarello.
The security preparations follow police action in the aftermath of the unrest reported on 17 October. On Friday, Digos officers conducted searches targeting around 100 people, including 51 minors. The operations took place in several cities, among them Bari, Bergamo, Florence, Genoa and Verona.
The scale of the preparations highlights the challenge facing Italian authorities as they seek to allow demonstrations while preventing attacks on businesses, clashes with law enforcement and damage to public property. With protests planned across multiple cities and mobilisation taking place both online and through established activist networks, police operations are being designed to cover a range of possible scenarios. The authorities’ response will be closely tied to how the demonstrations unfold and whether the concerns raised by the previous week’s incidents materialise again.
