Following the protests in Italy, the authorities have sent several hundred soldiers to Milan to guard important facilities and patrol the streets, the Ministry of Defense said. "Five hundred servicemen will allow to strengthen the guard posts, to activate the control of important objects and to increase the control capabilities of the territory," the statement said. According to the department, this step will allow the police and carabinieri to focus more on crime prevention. Protests against the government and the rising cost of living were held in a number of Italian cities on October 17 and 18. The biggest riots took place in Milan. More than 300 people were detained in the northern capital of Italy, almost 50 of them were detained. As a result of the clashes in the center of the city, more than 110 law enforcement officers sought medical help. The "Strade Secure" operation, in the framework of which military personnel are involved in the patrolling of cities and the protection of important objects, has been operating since August 2008. Initially, three thousand soldiers took part in it. Later, the scale of the operation was expanded many times. At present, around 6.8 thousand soldiers are involved in it throughout Italy.