After France, Italy is now in turmoil! Terrible looting and clashes in Milan, emergency alert issued for Indians by the Embassy of Rome

BS News Agency: Along with France, neighboring country Italy has also become agitated in protest against the increase in the cost of living. The protests that began in several cities of Italy since last Sunday have quickly turned violent, and the administration has been busy in handling the situation. In this context, the Indian Embassy in Rome has issued a special alert for Indian citizens living in Italy on Monday. In a guide published on social media, the embassy said that continuous protests and street rallies have been going on in various cities of Italy since last week. In this situation, advising Indian citizens to be very careful, the embassy said that in addition to avoiding unnecessary crowds and staying away from protest sites, they should keep a close eye on local news. Two helpline numbers have also been published for help in any emergency situation. Indians in Italy can contact the Indian Embassy in Rome (+39 331 614 2085) and the Consulate General in Milan (+39 3881647527) in case of need.

Protests began peacefully in several cities on Sunday, but turned violent in Milan. A group of violent protesters engaged in direct clashes with police and vandalized several shops, causing widespread looting and arson. Several workers were injured when bricks and stones were thrown at the police. As a precautionary measure, brands like Chanel, Tiffany and Dior withdrew their products from their stores on Via Montenapoleone, a luxury shopping area in the heart of Milan. Companies like Decathlon, Architerex and Vodafone were looted. In panic, international brands such as Levi's and Under Armour were forced to cover their shop windows with wood and cardboard. To bring the situation under control, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday that 500 additional soldiers were being deployed to protect Milan. According to police sources, a total of 271 young people were detained in the clashes on Sunday. Of these, 32 were arrested, including 23 minors and 13 foreigners. In addition, 28 more protesters were arrested in the northern cities of Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin on Saturday due to widespread clashes. In Turin, police detained people walking around with hammers and pieces of stone. On the other hand, a railway station in Bologna was temporarily closed for security reasons.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly condemned the violent incident. Expressing her anger on her X handle on Sunday, she wrote, "Protest is a democratic right. "But burning our city is not a right." He also held a high-level emergency meeting of ministers and top security officials on Monday. One of the deputy prime ministers, Antonio Tajani, said that this attack on the state would be met with a strong response. A special security package is expected to be approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. According to administration sources, the Meloni government is considering extending the period of 'preventive detention' as a strict measure to curb the nuisance of minors and youth gangs.

In addition, the Italian prime minister called on all political parties to unite and send a message against the politics of violence, while respecting the rights of peaceful protesters.