Italian Police Accuse Researcher of Leading October 17 Movement

Italian police accuse researcher Youssef Siher of being the political mastermind behind the October 17 Movement, with prosecutors requesting his detention be upheld on terrorism-related charges. Genoa prosecutors are separately investigating potential links between Siher and a charity network allegedly connected to Hamas financing. Siher, a 30-year-old Moroccan-origin researcher, allegedly used social media to organize protests following violence in Milan, amassing over 48,000 Instagram followers and 9,500 Telegram subscribers. Authorities claim he and his wife managed the platforms, distributing urban guerrilla manuals and instructions to evade police checks, though he faces no looting or damage charges. The October 24 protests resulted in nine arrests and 87 reports nationwide, with 4,292 people identified across major cities including Milan, Turin, and Rome. Siher's detention was executed Saturday before planned protest routes were announced, and investigators note his academic background in Islamic political movements distinguishes him from younger riot participants.