Milan clashes in Duomo as cost-of-living protest turns violent, 50 detained

A protest march in Milan against the cost of living descended into urban guerrilla warfare on Saturday, with clashes in Piazza Duomo involving firecrackers, barricades, and numerous injuries, leaving around 50 people detained by police. The "Italia in piazza" demonstration drew 5,000 attendees, but tensions escalated after protesters threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas. Violent clashes spread to Piazza dei Mercanti, causing damage to shop windows and forcing tourists to flee into metro stations. Some protesters used wheelbarrows of cobblestones against officers, while others emptied fire extinguishers in the square. Divisions emerged among demonstrators, with one young woman condemning the violence, as tear gas smoke drifted down Via Dante and businesses lowered their shutters.