Italy sends 500 troops to Milan after protests turn violent

Protests in Milan over rising prices and deteriorating public services have turned violent, prompting the Italian government to deploy 500 additional troops to the city. The escalation follows looting and clashes with police that forced downtown shops to close early. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held an emergency meeting and confirmed the deployment, with troops to support police in maintaining order. The violence began during a weekend cost-of-living protest, where masked participants threw stones and bottles, smashed windows, and looted stores. Over 270 people were arrested, about 80% of them minors. Authorities are also considering restricting access to some downtown areas and detaining at-risk youths preemptively. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the unrest a "hybrid war" against the state. Separately, trucker protests over fuel prices have disrupted logistics, with pasta maker Rummo halting production due to raw material shortages.