The Italian police conducted around 150 searches in several provinces of the country related to the riots that took place in Milan on October 17–18. This is reported by Euronews.
The operations were also prompted by messages from a WhatsApp group with more than 230 participants, where discussions took place about attacking the police, seizing their weapons, looting stores, and setting fire to government buildings.
The investigation began after the Digos unit of the police in the province of Monza and Brianza discovered a message calling for not wearing masks to avoid identification. On October 22, investigators searched the home of a minor, the alleged author of that message. They found a balaclava and an Under Armour brand shirt, which, according to the investigation's hypothesis, was stolen from one of the looted stores in Milan. Another minor was found to possess another shirt of the same brand, which was also presumably stolen during the riots.
Examination of the first minor’s phone revealed the WhatsApp group, whose members discussed the use of knives, smoke grenades, and explosives, attacking police officers, disarming them, and damaging police vehicles. The chat messages included calls to beat a policeman and take his weapon, as well as to set fire to government buildings.
Additionally, the participants discussed car thefts and robberies of commercial establishments. Messages mentioned the looting of a Gucci store and an attack on a McDonald's restaurant. Investigators also uncovered discussions about new protests planned for October 24, which they assessed could escalate into violence.
These data helped initiate a nationwide preventive operation. On October 24, police conducted about 150 personal and premises searches in several provinces of Italy. In the 16 municipalities of the Monza and Brianza province, inspections involved 32 individuals.
Police seized folding and automatic knives, brass knuckles, telescopic batons, two blank-firing guns without red protective caps, tools to break glass, balaclavas, and other objects used as weapons. Among the discovered items was a sickle engraved with the number "1312," the numerical representation of the insulting ACAB acronym directed against the police.
Meanwhile, 30-year-old researcher Yousef Siher, arrested on October 24 in connection with the riots, refused to answer questions from Judge Tiziana Landoni during hearings held at Milan’s “San Vittore” prison. He is accused of inciting crimes with the aggravating circumstance of pursuing terrorist goals, as well as organizing violence during mass events.
According to the prosecution, Siher manages the social media channels of the "October 17" movement formed after the clashes in central Milan. Prosecutors are requesting that he be held in custody, citing risks of flight and repeated offenses. The judge must decide on the legality of the arrest and preventive measure by October 28.
Siher's lawyers deny that their client incited violence or terrorism and demand his release. The investigation continues to clarify the circumstances of the riots and possible participants in illegal actions.
