Thousands of police officers and soldiers will patrol the streets of Rome and Milan on Saturday. Drones will reinforce street surveillance, monitoring signs of discontent from above.
From Milan, public broadcaster Rai reports that shop windows have been boarded up and that there is a “high state of alert” after last week’s scenes of violence. When demonstrators clashed with police, luxury stores were looted and fires were set. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons and arrests.
In addition, the government issued a decree making “violent participation” in a demonstration punishable by up to five years in prison.
New protests, marches and strikes are also expected on Saturday in Bologna, Genoa, Turin and Florence, among other places.