October 20, 2026 — Italy is sending 500 extra soldiers onto the streets of Milan after two nights of rioting and looting around the Duomo, and the cabinet was due to meet on Tuesday evening, October 20, to approve an emergency public-order decree. More demonstrations are planned in major Italian cities on October 24 and October 30.
What’s new since our last update
- Security summit: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni chaired a meeting on public order at Palazzo Chigi on Monday, October 19. The government said its response “will be firm,” Il Sole 24 Ore reports.
- Soldiers in Milan: 500 more troops will reinforce the “Strade Sicure” (Safe Streets) operation, starting in Milan. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the decree should give soldiers police powers for three months, according to Brussels Signal.
- Emergency decree: Expected measures include preventive detention of up to 24 hours (extended to minors), deferred arrests based on video footage, and heavier penalties for group damage. The decree had not been approved at the time of the reports. Final contents are TBA.
- Injuries and arrests: ANSA, cited by Brussels Signal, reports that police took 271 people to stations in Milan on October 18 and arrested 32, including 23 minors. The police union reported 56 injured in Bologna, and the interior ministry said about 100 were hurt in Turin.
- Shops boarded up: ABC News reports that luxury shops in Milan’s historic centre closed early on Monday and boarded up.
Coming up
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 20 (evening) | Cabinet meeting on the emergency public-order decree |
| Saturday, October 24 | Demonstrations planned in major cities (locations TBA) |
| Friday, October 30 | Demonstrations planned in major cities, on the same day as the general strike and dockworkers’ action we reported earlier |
The US State Department advisory for Italy is unchanged at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), issued September 10. The reports we found mention no public transport shutdowns.
What it means for airline travelers
- Avoid the Duomo area on protest days. Piazza del Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and nearby streets were the centre of the trouble. Plan sightseeing there away from October 24 and October 30 evenings.
- Expect soldiers and checks. Carry your passport or a copy, and follow instructions from police and soldiers.
- October 30 is a double risk. Protests and a general strike fall on the same day. Don’t plan to fly standby out of Italy that day if you can avoid it, and have a backup way to reach Malpensa or Linate.
- Layover hotels in central Milan: Ask the front desk about marches nearby, and stay in after dark if trouble is reported.
- Register: Americans can enroll in STEP, and Canadians in Registration of Canadians Abroad.
Sources
- Brussels Signal — Italy sends soldiers into Milan as ministers prepare emergency riot decree
- Il Sole 24 Ore — Security: summit with Meloni on public order. Possible anti-violence decree
- ABC News — France protests cool after overnight curfews in Paris, major cities, PM says
- US State Department (official) — Travel Advisories
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