Italy links European riots to Russian 'hybrid war'

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has linked riots in Paris, Marseille, Milan, and elsewhere in Europe over the past week to Russia's 'hybrid war', marking the first official accusation of its kind. Rioters clashed with police, set cars on fire, stormed public buildings, and looted stores, leading to around 2,400 arrests over the weekend. The unrest began as protests against the cost-of-living crisis and poor school conditions, with Crosetto claiming young participants were subjected to a "counter-education" via social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. France has ordered its intelligence agencies to investigate potential Russian involvement, while the EU is also probing foreign online interference. Analysts note pro-Kremlin influencers linked to the Storm-1516 campaign amplified the events, though they did not originate the demonstrations.