Italy Sends 500 Soldiers to Milan as Cost‑of‑Living Protests Turn Shopping Streets into Checkpoints

Italy has deployed hundreds of soldiers across Milan as cost‑of‑living demonstrations flare up, following violent clashes and looting of high‑end shops last weekend.

Luxury boutiques in the city centre now sit behind boarded‑up windows, a stark contrast to the usual glitter of designer labels.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a package of measures that includes sending an additional 500 soldiers to the city to help keep the peace.

The presence of troops has turned the fashion capital’s streets into an unlikely runway for military boots, prompting locals to joke that the army is now the city’s newest “fashion police.”

If you were hoping to browse the latest handbags, you might find yourself waiting for a salute rather than a sales assistant.