Italy protests draw thousands amid police crackdown and arrests

Thousands of people protested across Italy on Saturday under heavy security, with police arresting nine people and briefly detaining 371 others, including 110 minors, as clashes broke out at some rallies. The demonstrations followed violent unrest last weekend and a government crackdown. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government approved tough security measures this week, and police conducted dozens of searches and arrests before the protests. Several thousand marched in Milan, halting traffic, while a similar number rallied in Rome, where some briefly entered the Colosseum. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi praised police for containing "violent fringes." The protests stem from student, truck driver, and farmer grievances over cost-of-living issues like housing and fuel prices. The government deployed 500 soldiers to Milan and eased detention rules for minors, while also approving financial aid for businesses facing fuel spikes. Truck blockades that paralyzed southern Italy for a week have been lifted.