Italy poised to approve tougher security measures in response to protests – Europe live | Europe– www.theguardian.com

Italy’s deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, said that as part of the crackdown police will be able to detain under-18s at police stations for 12 hours, even if they have not committed a crime, provided there is evidence they pose a danger.

“We want to intervene quickly on young people,” Salvini told the RTL ​radio broadcaster ahead of a cabinet meeting to approve the measures, which have not yet been formally announced.

The security crackdown will also reportedly include banning gatherings for people deemed a threat to public order.

Thousands of people peacefully protested against living costs in cities across northern Italy over the weekend, but a number of the marches turned violent with some demonstrators seen looting stores and clashing with police.

Several hundred protesters, many believed to be minors, set bins ablaze ‌and looted shops in the centres of Milan, where more than 5,000 people gathered over the weekend.

In southern Italy, farmers and truckers have been blockading ports and highways to protest against the surge in fuel prices resulting from the US-Israel war on Iran.