Rome: Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a cabinet meeting on Tuesday to approve new security measures, also targeting minors, after days of unrest marked by clashes with police, looting and vandalism.
The package introduces a new offence of "violent participation in a demonstration", tougher penalties for rioters and immediate financial liability for parents whose children take part in vandalism and looting.
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The government also announced the deployment of 500 additional army troops in Milan to work alongside police forces and tighten security in the city through the end of the year.
The measures come after hundreds of hooded protesters, many believed to be minors, set bins ablaze and looted shops in Milan and other cities over the weekend, after initially peaceful demonstrations over poor public services and rising costs.
"Young people took to the streets to smash things, steal and film themselves doing it. It is a phenomenon that we must address seriously, also to prevent those images from becoming a model for others to imitate," the prime minister said.
Meloni has passed a steady stream of security crackdowns since taking office in 2022, which critics say do little to address the underlying causes of crime and disorder.
In recent days, hauliers have also been protesting over soaring fuel and transport costs, leading to shortages of basic goods in some shops and long queues at petrol stations in southern Italy.
