Italy's cabinet approves security decree after Milan riots; plan for 500 troops with police powers draws objection from president's office

Update, 7:08pm GMT Tuesday: The 500 extra troops being sent to Milan until 31 December will not have judicial police powers under the decree approved by the cabinet, after reservations raised by the president’s office, Corriere della Sera and L’Espresso reported. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said there had been “no stop from the Quirinale” and that the soldiers would be placed at the disposal of public security authorities, Corriere reported (our translation). Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said the decree creates a new offence of violent participation in public demonstrations by groups of at least five people, punishable by two to five years in prison, and allows arrests to be made after the act; it also extends preventive detention to minors, according to Corriere and L’Espresso. Parents of minors involved can face administrative fines of €500 to €1,000, Piantedosi said. “These are unacceptable scenes that no one should attempt to downplay or justify,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, ANSA reported. Meloni said police had detained or arrested 330 people, Corriere reported. Figures as of 7:08pm GMT Tuesday.

Italy’s cabinet on Tuesday 20 October approved a new decree on security and juvenile crime following two days of rioting and looting in Milan, the news agency ANSA reported.

Before the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the measures would include deploying 500 troops with police powers in Milan and rules that “will make it more difficult even for minors to commit crimes”, ANSA reported. “The government’s response will be very firm to ensure free commerce and the free movement of citizens in city centres,” Tajani said. He said peaceful demonstrations were legitimate but called those who damaged central Milan “criminals, often without political motives”.

The office of President Sergio Mattarella, known as the Quirinale, raised a constitutional objection to giving the military police powers, ANSA reported. The president must sign the decree before it takes effect. La Repubblica reported that the plan also includes preventive detention for minors and tougher penalties for aggravated damage to property.

According to ANSA, the unrest began on Saturday on the sidelines of a cost-of-living demonstration and continued on Sunday, with groups of young people looting shops and throwing stones, bottles and flares at police, injuring 14 officers. More than 270 people were detained, about 80% of them minors.

Figures as of 5:42pm GMT. See also: Meloni holds security meeting after Milan rioting.