MILAN - The 500 soldiers being deployed to Milan belong to the Folgore paratrooper brigade, some of whose members are trained to operate drones. Speaking after a meeting of the provincial committee for public order and security ahead of the weekend, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said they “will have maximum mobility across the area.” The prefect will determine their deployment under the government’s “Safe Streets” operation. Depending on security needs, they will patrol the city and guard sensitive sites to strengthen surveillance.

Piantedosi said there was “no evidence” that the young people behind the violence in Milan were being “directed or manipulated” by outside forces. The unrest that erupted last Saturday and Sunday, he said, was “a new and complex phenomenon that must be addressed in new ways.” He stressed the importance of preventive measures already being implemented by law enforcement.

Police are now weighing additional measures to prevent further violence during Saturday’s demonstrations.

The alert level is extremely high. While the postal police monitor the growing number of public and private social media groups, counterterrorism officials are considering a blanket ban on marches in the city center.

A demonstration by Blocco Studentesco, a far-right youth group, along with young supporters of Brothers of Italy and other right-wing groups, had been planned near the Arch of Peace, beyond Sempione Park. Anarchists, meanwhile, had announced a march between the Conciliazione area and San Vittore prison well before last weekend’s clashes. One of the protest’s main demands is support for Rexhino Gino Abazaj, an anti-fascist activist facing up to 25 years in prison in Hungary.

Authorities may ultimately authorize only a stationary pro-Palestinian demonstration in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, about four kilometers from the Duomo. On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Italy also issued a warning on social media: “In the coming days, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can quickly turn violent.”

Fines of up to €5,000 are beginning to reach the families of young people identified during last weekend’s unrest. The penalties relate to their children’s participation in unauthorized demonstrations or protests that disrupted public order.

Saturday’s priority will be to keep young people intent on joining potential clashes from reaching the city center. Authorities will coordinate with police departments in neighboring areas to monitor railway stations used by those traveling to Milan.

For young people already in the city, an area will be set up on Via Cagni with the assistance of civil protection services. Those brought there will be identified, and authorities will contact their families.

Officials are also concerned about self-appointed vigilantes planning to take to the streets to prevent vandalism and looting. Authorities have moved to head off such initiatives before they get off the ground, after some far-right influencers floated the idea on social media.

“At this critical stage, the priority above all is to maintain control and crack down on these phenomena,” Mayor Giuseppe Sala said, welcoming the deployment of troops.

Milan’s municipal police will also be out in force over the weekend, with about 300 officers available and drones potentially deployed as well.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto had described the unrest as “hybrid warfare.” Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini pushed back against that characterization, dismissing the possibility of outside orchestration.

“I don’t believe there are external forces or hidden hands behind this. These people were after Nike sneakers and iPhones; they wanted Rolex watches. The 343 people detained and the 50 arrested had nothing to do with political demands, high diesel prices, the rising cost of living, university housing or whatever else you want to throw in. They came to Milan to steal and wreak havoc, without any ideals,” Salvini said.

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