Italy preparing with elite troops and drone surveillance for 24 October protests

Nationwide protests against the rising cost of living are expected in Italy and France on Saturday 24 October. Authorities and business owners fear a repeat of what happened on 17 and 18 October, when hundreds of people were involved in violent incidents targeting shops and law enforcement.

Protests are planned in several Italian cities, including Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Turin, Rome and Florence. According to "Mappa della rivolta", a website that collates protest initiatives, more than 30 mobilisations are scheduled, ranging from marches and sit-ins to assemblies and strikes.

The capital will be under tight security for the occasion. Rome's police headquarters has drawn up a security plan to manage both notified demonstrations and spontaneous rallies announced online. In addition to the usual units deployed to handle protests, drones from the State Police's 1st Flight Department and aircraft from the Carabinieri will also be used. In all, around 1,500 officers will be deployed, with checks stretching from city squares to railway stations.

Rome's Cybersecurity Centre is also operational, monitoring posts and activities on social media in coordination with Digos, the specialized operational division of the Italian State Police.