ROME, Italy: A new law-and-order decree adopted this week by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's rightist government empowers the Italian police to detain suspected troublemakers temporarily before rallies to prevent them from spreading unrest.

The interior ministry stated that the bill was introduced after more than 100 police officers were injured, and nearly 30 protesters arrested after a rally over the weekend by the hard-left in Turin. 

It was adopted just before the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, which began on February 6 and concludes on February 22. Officials have said they will be tightening security and preparing to deal with any protests against the presence of U.S. security officers.

"With the measures approved today, we are strengthening the tools to prevent and combat widespread crime," Meloni said on X.

In Turin, some protesters threw bottles, stones, and fireworks at police officers. Videos showed one officer being attacked with sticks and a hammer.

Under the new decree, which will take effect in the next few days, police will be allowed to detain suspected troublemakers for up to 12 hours to stop them from joining protests.

The bill also brings rules against pickpocketing and youth gangs, bans the sale of knives to minors, and gives stronger self-defence protections to police officers and private citizens who are attacked.

Angelo Bonelli, leader of the opposition Green Left Alliance, said the bill was too harsh and argued it would be better to give police more funding to fight crime. He described preventive arrests as a serious violation of the constitutional right to protest.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi defended the new powers, saying similar laws already exist in other European countries.