Milan on High Alert as Police Deploy 1,400 Officers to Prevent Protest Violence

Milan is on high alert today with over 1,400 police, carabinieri, and military personnel deployed to prevent a repeat of last weekend's violent protests and looting in the city center. Preventive checks are underway in metro stations and 150 searches are being conducted, with the Movement set to announce final crowd numbers at 3:30 PM. The massive security operation includes paratroopers from the Folgore brigade and a task force of 10 magistrates to handle potential criminal fallout. Many shops have boarded up windows or announced early closures, though Mayor Beppe Sala has urged businesses to stay open and not give in to fear. The crackdown follows last Saturday's demonstration against the cost of living that degenerated into riots, with police identifying dozens of suspects from surveillance footage. Authorities have banned afternoon protests in the center while allowing morning demonstrations by far-right groups and USB unionists, with concerns about potential infiltration by anarchists and neo-fascists.