Italy Protests: 9 Arrests, 87 Charges in Turin, Rome, Bologna, Florence

Protests erupted across Italy on Sunday, with police reporting 9 arrests, 87 charges, and 371 detentions, including 110 minors, amid clashes in Turin, Rome, Bologna, and Florence. The demonstrations, largely against rearmament, saw police use tear gas and water cannons against protesters throwing bottles and fireworks. Authorities identified Youssef Siher, a 30-year-old Moroccan-Italian researcher, as the alleged mastermind behind the Instagram page "Movimento 17 ottobre," now under investigation for aggravated incitement to crime. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi praised police for isolating violent factions, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked security forces for ensuring safety despite attempts to provoke disorder. Over 150 police searches were conducted across 20 cities following last weekend's unrest, uncovering a WhatsApp chat with messages advocating attacks on police. In Rome, some protesters entered the Colosseum, while the Russian embassy dismissed accusations of Moscow's involvement as a "passe-partout" for Italy's problems.