Italy is sending 500 soldiers to Milan after protests over the cost of living turned into clashes with police and looting, according to the Guardian and ANSA. The government promised a "firm response from the state," the Guardian reported.

The troops come from the Folgore paratrooper brigade, ANSA reported. Drone specialists may also be sent, officials said Wednesday, according to ANSA. The mission will run from the coming days through the end of the year, it said.

The soldiers will work under Italy's long-running "Safe Streets" program, ANSA reported. They will not get the police powers first planned. That changed after President Sergio Mattarella objected, ANSA said. Their job is limited to public safety, it reported.

Police in Milan detained 271 young people over the weekend, the Guardian reported. Hooded youths set bins on fire, broke into shops and smashed windows, it said. Some of the damage was near the city's cathedral. Of those detained, 32 were arrested, including 23 minors, police said, according to the Guardian.

Police used tear gas and water cannon on violent groups, the Guardian reported. The protest had begun peacefully. The unrest followed clashes in other northern cities, including Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin, it said.

The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also announced new security measures, the Guardian reported. They include a new crime of violent participation in a protest and tougher penalties for rioters. Parents could also be held financially liable when their children take part in looting, the Guardian said.

Luxury brands in Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II removed goods from their windows as a precaution, the Guardian reported.

The protests are part of a wider wave across Europe. In France, officials plan a heavy police presence for protests Saturday, the Guardian reported.

What we know: Italy is deploying 500 paratroopers to Milan through the end of the year.
What we don't: How the soldiers will be used during Saturday's planned protests.