Rioters loot stores and set fires in central Milan during cost-of-living protest

Rioters clashed with police, looted stores, and set fires in central Milan on Saturday during a cost-of-living protest, forcing the evacuation of Piazza del Duomo and a luxury shopping arcade. The violence left at least two police officers injured and about 50 demonstrators detained. The march against wars and rising living costs began peacefully, but masked protesters threw stones and paving blocks at riot police, set fire to barricades made from bar tables, and damaged a carabinieri car. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas, with many of those detained being minors. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence, saying demonstrating is a right but setting cities ablaze is not, while Milan’s mayor Giuseppe Sala called the protest reasons understandable but the violence unjustifiable. The unrest coincided with similar demonstrations in France against rising living costs and in support of high school students.