'Laying our cities to waste…': Italian PM Meloni blasts 'hooligans' as Milan protests turn violent

Italy becomes the latest to get caught in the whirlwind of political protests as mass unrest disrupts life in France, Albania, and Spain. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni condemned the violence, saying, "To demonstrate is a right. To lay our cities to waste is not." October 17 witnessed the start of a peaceful march in Milan that became violent as masked hooligans threw stones, paving blocks and other objects at riot police. The protestors also looted stores, emptying Piazza del Duomo and a luxury shopping arcade. One of the core causes of unrest in Italy is the rising cost of living. The rising fuel costs have reportedly raised utility bills and consumer goods prices, affecting the pockets of Italians.