We can barely afford to make it to the end of the month, say protesters in Milanpublished at 21:46 BST
21:46 BST
Sarah Rainsford
Southern Europe correspondent, in Milan
Image source, Reuters
A major security operation including the deployment of 100s of soldiers alongside police prevented protesters gathering for most of the day in Milan.
It was part of the government’s zero tolerance response after violent scenes in the city last week when some demonstrators set fires, smashed windows and looted shops.
There were protests today elsewhere in Italy, including skirmishes with police in Bologna, where water cannons were used, and Turin where protesters also burned a picture of the prime minister.
But early this afternoon a man described as the ‘brains’ behind the 17 October Movement (M1710) which had called today’s protests was identified and taken in for questioning by police.
The mysterious movement had promised to post details on social media of where to gather in each city – in order to avoid the police – but its social media accounts were never updated.
Image source, Reuters
Here in Milan, that left would-be protesters lost for what to do, or where to go, and easily outnumbered and outmanoeuvred by police and paratroopers.
We saw groups – mostly teenagers – being stopped and searched on a massive scale, with police checking their bags and documents.
Later in the evening, a crowd of demonstrators marched peacefully through the city, ending outside the Polytechnic University.
“The cost of living,” a group of young women there told the BBC, when asked why they were protesting – mentioning high rents and the cost of fuel. “We can barely make it to the end of the month.”