Milan deploys 500 paratroopers as Salvini seeks long-term military presence

Milan is on high alert for potential clashes on Saturday, with 500 paratroopers from the Folgore brigade being deployed to the city, a decision confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini following a security meeting with Mayor Giuseppe Sala. The troops, equipped with drones and Lince armored vehicles, will patrol sensitive areas and stations to maintain public order, with Salvini expressing hope the military presence becomes a long-term measure lasting months or years. The deployment follows urban guerrilla scenes on October 17-18, and new protests have been announced on social media, prompting three arrests for looting. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto clarified that the soldiers must operate within legal limits, noting they cannot use tasers or irritant sprays, while a judge warned that social media could act as a "detonator of violence" for further unrest.