Milan luxury shops close for fear of further unrest, govt prepares new crackdown

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Italy tightens security as Milan luxury shops close amid cost-of-living riots

   Luxury retailers in Milan's Via Montenapoleone district, including Dior, Chanel, and Tiffany, closed early and boarded windows Monday to avoid further unrest. This follows weekend protests over the cost of living that devolved into urban guerrilla warfare, involving looting and arson in the city center. Italian police have detained hundreds of people. In response, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a security meeting, and the government introduced a demonstration decree that expands the use of preventive detention to curb future violence.

   Why it matters

   Milan serves as Italy's economic capital and generates roughly 20% of the national GDP. The current unrest reflects broader instability, with parallel protests occurring in both northern and southern Italy.

   What is confirmed

   • Rioters looted stores and set fires in central Milan during cost-of-living protests.
   • Italian police detained hundreds of people during the weekend unrest.
   • Prime Minister Meloni convened a security meeting after the riots.
   • Luxury shops in Via Montenapoleone closed early and boarded windows on Monday.
   • The government introduced a demonstration decree to tighten measures against violence.
   • Juvenile Court ordered house arrest or community placement for 21 young people and kept three minors in prison.

   Still unconfirmed

   • An 18-year-old was confirmed for prison and a 21-year-old for house arrest after devastating a sports store in Piazza Cairoli.

   What to watch next

   • Implementation details of the demonstration decree's preventive detention rules
   • Court rulings on the hundreds of detainees from the weekend unrest
   • Reports on the status of parallel protests in southern Italy
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. www.koreatimes.co.kr — Saudi Arabia strikes Yemen capital as Houthis vow to retaliate
   2. AP News — Rioters loot stores, set fires in central Milan during cost-of-living protest
   3. Reuters — Italian police detain hundreds as stores looted in weekend unrest in Milan
   4. Politico — Meloni convenes security meeting after riots in Italy
   5. The New York Times — Italy Faces Parallel Protests in the North and South
   6. Bloomberg.com — Italy Set to Tighten Rules As Milan Luxury Shops Lock Up Early
   7. jen.jiji.com — Guerrilla in Milan, Preliminary Investigations Judge after clashes: "Social media a possible exponential detonator of violence"
   8. jen.jiji.com — Milan, clashes and devastation: three minors remain in prison, 21 under house arrest or in community
   9. openkorea.org — Milan luxury shops close for fear of further unrest, gov't prepares new crackdown - Open Korea
   10. en.wikipedia.org — Milan - Wikipedia
   11. www.acmilan.com — AC Milan | Sito Ufficiale
   12. www.savoringitaly.com — Complete Milan, Italy Travel Guide: 2026 Top Tips & Attractions
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