Italy Protests: Water Cannon in Rome, Colosseum Breach as Marches Defy Decree
The crux: Italy marched again on 24 October with 500 extra soldiers in Milan and squares sealed off in several cities, a week after riots and a tough new security decree. The day turned tense: police used water cannon, tear gas and charges in central Rome, protesters briefly got into the Colosseum, and tear gas was fired in Turin. In Rome alone 96 people were taken to police headquarters.
Clashes in Rome, Turin and Milan
In Rome, an unauthorised youth march tried to push on from Largo di Santa Susanna towards government buildings. Bottles were thrown at police, who answered with water cannon, tear gas and charges, according to Il Sole 24 Ore. Earlier a breakaway group briefly entered the Colosseum before being moved out, and the march later headed for Termini station, where gates were closed. Police had already taken 43 young people to headquarters after finding balaclavas, masks and gloves in pre-march checks. In Turin police fired volleys of tear gas, and there were tense moments in Bologna and Florence. In Milan more than 10,000 people marched against living costs; a Lega party banner was set alight, and students and police came face to face on Corso Venezia, where a few baton blows were struck before armoured vehicles blocked the way into the city centre. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said there would be “no safe havens” for rioters.
What happened
In Rome the main anti-war and cost-of-living march, “Fuori l’Italia dalla guerra”, was set to leave Piazza della Repubblica at 15:00 for Via dei Fori Imperiali, with about 10,000 people expected. In Milan the “Movimento 17 ottobre” kept its meeting points secret until 14:30, then named Piazza Cavour, Piazza XXV Aprile and Piazza Leonardo da Vinci. Rallies were also planned from Naples to Florence.
Why it matters
On 17–18 October a peaceful Milan rally against war, living costs and poor schools turned violent. Masked groups threw paving stones and set barricades alight, shops were looted, and police used tear gas and water cannon. More than 250 people were detained, about 80% of them minors, and there were also riots in Bologna and Turin. On 20 October the government created a new offence of “violent participation in public demonstrations”, widened preventive detention to minors and made parents liable for damage. Critics warn the decree could inflame the protests rather than calm them.
What’s next
Today’s marches did not stay fully peaceful under the new rules, though they fell short of last weekend’s looting. The first arrests under the decree, and any legal challenges to it, are the next things to watch.
Sources
- Il Sole 24 Ore, 24 Oct 2026 — https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/squares-cordoned-off-across-italia-protest-marches-in-rome-milan-and-turin-AJT6ndtB
- TG La7 live, 24 Oct 2026 — https://tg.la7.it/cronaca/manifestazioni-oggi-notizie-diretta-milano-roma-24-10-2026-264784
- ANSA, 24 Oct 2026 — https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2026/10/24/da-milano-a-castel-volturno-piazze-blindate-per-i-nuovi-cortei.-la-mappa_4b093092-5d16-474b-ad7e-21a60f02d95f.html
- Roma Mobilità, 24 Oct 2026 — https://romamobilita.it/infomobilita/sabato-corteo-repubblica-fori-imperiali-possibili-chiusure-e-deviazioni/
- AP, 23–24 Oct 2026 — https://apnews.com/article/europe-protests-rome-milan-b41b5adf5a749440abb88693059eeced
- AP, 20 Oct 2026 — https://apnews.com/article/italy-protests-security-measures-government-78dd53cb94d34a1109069f2d2eba3efe
- Al Jazeera, 21 Oct 2026 — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/21/what-are-italys-new-measures-against-violent-protests
- BBC News, 19 Oct 2026 — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6j9kwxxmxydo
