Security Package to prevent return of political terrorism

The government is determined to prevent any return of political terrorism in Italy, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said on Thursday, presenting a new security package following violent anarchist riots in Turin that left around 100 police officers injured last weekend.

Speaking at a press conference after a cabinet meeting, Nordio said the measures were designed to stop a repeat of the violence associated with the Red Brigades. The Marxist group was responsible for a wave of attacks during the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1978 kidnapping and murder of former prime minister Aldo Moro.

“We are trying, through prevention, to ensure those sad moments never happen again,” Nordio said, referring both to the new decree and to the history of political violence during Italy’s so-called Years of Lead.

Nordio said the Red Brigades emerged partly because the state underestimated threats against law enforcement. He recalled how violence was often minimised at the time, citing phrases such as “comrades who are going wrong” and references to “so-called Red Brigades”, which he said downplayed the danger.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi rejected claims that the new security decree undermines the right to protest. He said the introduction of preventive detention ahead of demonstrations was not an attack on freedom of assembly.

“Preventive detention is not a measure that kills freedom,” Piantedosi said. He noted that similar measures exist in other legal systems and are subject to judicial oversight.

Under the decree, individuals deemed likely to commit crimes during demonstrations can be taken to a police station for up to two hours. Judicial authorities must be informed and can order an immediate release if legal conditions are not met.

Measure is based on preventive grounds

Piantedosi said the measure is based on strong preventive grounds and concrete evidence. He linked it directly to the type of violence seen during recent protests, including the Turin riots.

He also said discussions with President Sergio Mattarella had been constructive, particularly on constitutional concerns surrounding preventive detention and legal protections for police acting in self-defence. Piantedosi added that the decree will be published in its original form.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the new security package represents a continuation of the government’s broader strategy on public order. She rejected criticism that the measures were symbolic or improvised.

“These are not one-off showy measures,” Meloni said in a social media post after the cabinet meeting. She described them as part of a clear plan to strengthen the state’s ability to protect citizens.

The package includes preventive detention for suspected terrorists, violent protesters and foreign bomb-makers. It also introduces legal safeguards for police self-defence and fines for parents whose children are found carrying banned knives.

Meloni said the measures reflect a state that does not look away from violence, supports law enforcement and restores security and freedom to citizens.