Italy's security decree targets protest violence with new crime and expanded detention

Italy's government approved a security decree introducing a new crime of "organized violence in public demonstrations" and expanding preventive detention, following riots and looting in Milan and other cities. The decree includes eight articles targeting protest-related violence. The new offense punishes those using sticks, clubs, or throwing objects during protests with two to five years in prison and fines up to 20,000 euros, with increased penalties for masked offenders or damage to infrastructure. Organizing violent groups online carries four to twelve years, while preventive detention now extends to crowded places and minors over 16, with fines up to 1,000 euros for parents of violent minors. The decree also presumes criminal capacity for minors over 14, allows police to ban gatherings for minors, and deploys 500 additional soldiers to Milan until December 31 at a cost of 4.7 million euros, as announced by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.