Italian law enforcement agencies have launched coordinated raids targeting at least 30 young individuals following online chat coordination that sparked widespread fears of copycat looting in Como, mirroring recent riots in Milan, Il Giorno reported.
Police Raids Target Young Suspects Across Como Following WhatsApp Threats
Investigators from the Digos security division initiated sweeping searches across Como starting Thursday evening, targeting approximately 30 young people aged 14 to 24, according to reporting by Il Giornale. The suspects are accused of criminal instigation aimed at looting and destruction after encrypted chat groups generated widespread panic throughout the region on Monday. Authorities stated that the operation stems from a concerted effort by the Como Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Milan Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office to identify the individuals operating the phones and determine their actual involvement in organizing violent gatherings.
Investigators Track Specific Chat Instructions and Seize Weapons
According to case files detailed by Il Giorno, investigators uncovered precise operational directives circulated within the messaging groups. Participants allegedly planned to assemble with instructions such as, “Let’s go dressed as good guys, then we change and throw stones,” and “everyone dressed in black, balaclavas in the pocket, when we’ve grouped together a bit, say hello to Como.” In response to the escalating threat, the Digos, alongside the Mobile Squad and Carabinieri, executed a broad wave of searches. Earlier on Tuesday, authorities searched three 16-year-olds in Como, seizing a baseball bat from one of the suspects.
Judicial System and Downtown Businesses Brace for Weekend Security Pressures
To manage potential arrests and fast-track trials, the Como Prosecutor’s Office reinforced its external duty roster, which is typically handled by a single magistrate. Simultaneously, local businesses in Como have taken precautionary measures. Downtown retailers, most notably a Foot Locker store on Via Plinio that was previously targeted during the Milan unrest, protected their display windows with heavy wooden panels, despite reassurances from the local police headquarters. Local authorities also intensified security presence around all provincial railway stations ahead of the weekend, coinciding with the Serie A football fixture between Como and Sassuolo scheduled for 15:00 local time (13:00 UTC) on Saturday, October 24.
Questions Remain Over Wider Network and Copycat Incidents Across Lombardy
Investigators are working to determine the real involvement of those in the chats and whether similar disorders in areas like Legnano and Iseo are directly linked to the events in Milan and Como.
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