Soldiers guard center of Milan as thousands of protesters march across European cities

MILAN — Thousands of young people marched Saturday through the streets of Milan, where large numbers of soldiers were deployed and luxury boutiques were boarded up in case of a repeat of last weekend’s chaotic looting and clashes.

Premier Giorgia Meloni announced a raft of measures, including sending an additional 500 soldiers to Milan and tougher penalties for minors, who police said made up a large part of the violent protesters last week.

While protests in France have claimed most international attention, large demonstrations also rocked many European cities Saturday from Milan to Madrid, Lisbon and Tirana.

The protests encompass a broad range of issues from education and corruption to anti-war movements, pensions and housing.

In Milan, huge crowds of mostly young people gathered as night fell, chanting insults to Meloni and holding aloft banners such as “No to lies of the state.”

A group of protesters dumped manure outside Italy’s energy regulator and burned a symbolic, oversized electricity bill, images broadcast on local television showed.

The 500 soldiers deployed to Milan came in addition to hundreds already stationed there, supporting about 5,000 police and other security personnel. Authorities used drone surveillance, checks at railway stations, rapid-response units and online…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world