Italian PM Meloni announces harsh penalties for riot participants after weekend unrest

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced severe penalties for those participating in riots following recent weekend disturbances. Individuals joining groups of five or more who throw stones, firecrackers, or sticks face up to five years in prison and fines of up to 20,000 euros. Meloni stated that those who damage property must pay for it, and if the perpetrator is a minor, their parents will be held financially responsible. An additional 500 soldiers will be deployed to Milan by year's end to support police and Carabinieri forces. The youngest person identified in Milan riots was reportedly 11 years old. "There is nothing revolutionary about destruction and theft," Meloni said, calling such acts criminality rather than protest.