---
title: "Italian police identify researcher Youssef Siher as alleged creator of protest page"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/italian-police-identify-researcher-youssef-siher-as-alleged-creator-of-protest-p"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/italian-police-identify-researcher-youssef-siher-as-alleged-creator-of-protest-p"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/italian-police-identify-researcher-youssef-siher-as-alleged-creator-of-protest-p.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/italian-police-identify-researcher-youssef-siher-as-alleged-creator-of-protest-p"
category: "Politics"
published: "2026-10-24T18:25:26.529Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-24T17:03:03.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-24T18:25:26.529Z"
trust_score: 60
critic_score: 60
hype_score: 40
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-24T18:15:21.905722+00:00"
---

# Italian police identify researcher Youssef Siher as alleged creator of protest page

*Authorities investigate the 30-year-old for incitement to crimes aggravated by terrorism.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body (Piantedosi) and intelligence sources, with one full report.
- Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Most outlets are digests; one full report provides detail. Claims are specific.
- Hype 40 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are descriptive, but some use loaded terms like 'mind' and 'creator'.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Youssef Siher, a 30-year-old Italian of Moroccan origin, is being investigated for allegedly creating the Instagram page 'Movement 17 October'.
- Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi stated Siher has contacts with 'antagonist environments' and is a freelance journalist.
- Intelligence services, specifically Aisi, identified Siher through social media monitoring.
- Siher has a background as a PhD researcher with studies in geopolitics and past collaborations with 'Il Fatto Quotidiano' and ISPI.

Italian authorities have identified Youssef Siher, a 30-year-old Italian of second-generation Moroccan origin, as the alleged creator of the Instagram page 'Movement 17 October'. Siher is under investigation for incitement to commit crimes, with the charges aggravated by terrorism and the use of computer means. The identification was reportedly made by intelligence services, specifically Aisi, through social media monitoring.

Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi stated that Siher has contacts with 'antagonist environments' and works as a freelance journalist. Siher's background includes a PhD research position, studies in geopolitics, and previous collaborations with the publication 'Il Fatto Quotidiano' and the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI).

## Disagreement on Siher's residence

While ANSA reported that Siher is formally resident in the province of Brescia and was being questioned at the Milan police headquarters, Agi.it stated that he lives in Milan and was searched at his parents' home that morning. Il Fatto Quotidiano also noted he is formally a resident of Brescia.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention Siher's background as a PhD researcher or his studies in geopolitics. None of the right-rated digests mention Siher's background as a PhD researcher or his studies in geopolitics, nor do they mention his past collaborations with 'Il Fatto Quotidiano' and ISPI.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 9 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 67% (6)
- Centre: 11% (1)
- Right: 22% (2)

16 of 25 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-24T18:15:21.905722+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-24T18:45:22.824Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports highlighted Youssef Siher's background as a researcher and journalist. El Pais noted he is an Italian journalist of Moroccan origin. La Vanguardia described him as a politologist of Moroccan origin being investigated for incitement to commit crimes. Il Fatto Quotidiano identified him as a 30-year-old researcher of Moroccan origin and freelance journalist, accused of being the organiser of the Instagram page. La Repubblica referred to him as 'Propal, 30 years old, freelance', stating he is before investigators accused of incitement to criminals. La Stampa focused on his background, noting he is a PhD researcher currently being investigated for incitement to aggravated criminals.

### Centre

- The centre-rated report from ANSA provided a detailed profile of Youssef Siher, identifying him as a 30-year-old Italian of Moroccan origin and a PhD researcher. It detailed his alleged role as the mind behind the 'Movement 17 October' Instagram page and his investigation for incitement to commit crimes aggravated by terrorism. The report also included statements from Minister Piantedosi regarding Siher's contacts and freelance journalist status, and noted his background in geopolitics and past collaborations.

### Right

- Right-rated reports from La Razón and La Verità focused on Siher's Moroccan origins and pro-Palestinian affiliation. La Razón stated the Italian Minister of the Interior specified the suspect is a journalist and 'militates in the pro-Palestinian environment'. La Verità's headline read 'Moroccan Origins and Pro Pal: Who Is the Mind Behind the Movement October 17', and mentioned he was stopped in Milan and brought to the police station, quoting Minister Piantedosi expressing trust in the police work.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 1
- high: 6
- unknown: 16
- veryHigh: 2

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [El Pais](https://elpais.com/internacional/2026-10-24/la-temida-jornada-de-protestas-en-italia-transcurre-sin-incidentes-y-con-la-detencion-del-presunto-promotor-en-redes-de-los-disturbios.html) — The Dreaded Day of Protests in Italy Takes Place without Incident and with the Arrest of the Alleged Network Promoter of the Riots
- [firenzepost.it](https://firenzepost.it/2026/10/24/movimento-17-ottobre-indagato-un-ricercatore-e-giornalista-youssef-siher-pro-pal-ed-esperto-di-islam) — Movement 17 October: Researcher and Journalist Investigated. Youssef Siher, Pro Pal and Expert in Islam - Firenze Post
- [Libre](https://libre.gr/2026/10/24/italia-30chronos-marokinos-feretai-na-di) — Italy: 30-Year-Old Moroccan Allegedly Created the Website “17 October”, Which Coordinates the Protests
- [La Vanguardia](https://lavanguardia.com/internacional/20261024/11667247/detenido-milan-presunto-cerebro-protestas-juveniles-italia.html) — The Alleged Brain of the Youth Protests in Italy Arrested in Milan
- [Il Post](https://ilpost.it/2026/10/24/arrestato-ricercatore-movimento-17-ottobre) — A 30-Year-Old Researcher Suspected of Administering the Page "Movement 17 October" Was Arrested.
- [Agi.it](https://agi.it/cronaca/news/2026-10-24/milano-scontri-indagato-ideatore-movimento-17-ottobre-39691298) — Scontri Milano, Who Is the Creator of the Movement October 17
- [Il Quotidiano del Sud](https://quotidianodelsud.it/2026/10/24/cortei-individuato-a-milano-ideatore-movimento-17-ottobre-e-pro-pal-e-giornalista-free-lance-di-un-quotidiano) — Cortei, Identified in Milan as the Creator of the Movement 17 October: He Is Pro Pal and Freelance Journalist of a Newspaper
- [La Razón](https://larazon.es/internacional/identifican-milan-presunto-autor-movimiento-17-octubre-que-alentaba-protestas_202610246adcc7ed1e53586bfbbb5f02.html) — Identified in Milan the Alleged Author of the "Movement 17 October" that Encouraged the Protests
- [LiberoReporter](https://liberoreporter.it/2026/10/primo-piano/movimento-17-ottobre-indagato-youssef-siher-perquisito-a-milano.html) — Movement 17 October, Investigated Youssef Siher: Searched in Milan
- [italpress.com](https://italpress.com/piantedosi-presunta-mente-del-movimento-17-ottobre-ha-contatti-con-antagonisti) — "Presunta Mente Del Movimento 17 Ottobre Ha Contatti Con Antagonisti" Press Agency Italpress
- [ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84](https://athina984.gr/2026/10/24/italia-entopistike-30chronos-poy-feretai-na-syntonize-viaies-kinitopoiiseis-meso-diadiktyoy) — Italy: 30-Year-Old Man Identified for Allegedly Coordinating Violent Protests Online
- [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/239914_entopistike-o-dimioyrgos-tis-istoselidas-17-oktobri-gia-biaies-kinitopoiiseis) — Italy: 30-Year-Old Website Administrator Arrested for Organizing Riots
- [corrieredellacalabria.it](https://corrieredellacalabria.it/2026/10/24/milano-indagato-il-fondatore-del-movimento-17-ottobre) — Milan, Investigated the Founder of the "Movement 17 October"
- [vanityfair.it](https://vanityfair.it/article/youssef-siher-chi-potrrebbe-esserci-dietro-il-movimento-17-ottobre) — Who Is Youssef Siher, the Thirty-Year-Old Who Could Be Behind the Movement October 17: From Geopolitical Studies to 10,000 Registered Chat
- [Il Fatto Quotidiano](https://ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/10/24/movimento-17-ottobre-indagato-notizie/8548743) — Movement 17 October, Alleged Organizer Investigated for Incitement to Criminals
- [Agenzia giornalistica Opinione](https://agenziagiornalisticaopinione.it/opinionmix/rainews-cronaca-chi-e-youssef-siher-il-ricercatore-indagato-come-mente-del-movimento-17-ottobre) — RAINEWS * CHRONACA: "CHI È YOUSSEF SIHER," THE RESEARCHER INDIGATED AS MIND OF THE "MOVE 17 OCTOBER" . News From Italy - World / Trentino Alto Adige
- [Business.it](https://business.it/movimento-17-ottobre-chi-e-lideatore-youssef-siher-e-indagato-per-istigazione-a-delinquere) — Movement 17 October, Who Is the Creator Youssef Siher: Is Investigated for Incitement to Criminals
- [Il Capoluogo](https://ilcapoluogo.it/2026/10/24/fermato-youssef-siher-sarebbe-il-fondatore-della-pagina-movimento-17-ottobre) — Stopped Youssef Siher, Would Be the Founder of the Page Movement October 17
- [Quotidiano Nazionale](https://quotidiano.net/magazine/chi-e-youssef-siher-la-mente-del-movimento-17-ottobre-ricercatore-ispi-attivista-pro-pal-um7srr7t) — Who Is Youssef Siher, the Mind of the Movement October 17: Researcher of the Ispi, Activist Pro Pal, 30-Year-Old Second Generation Brescia
- [ilgiorno.it](https://ilgiorno.it/milano/cronaca/chi-e-youssef-siher-la-mente-del-movimento-17-ottobre-ricercatore-ispi-attivista-pro-pal-um7srr7t) — Who Is Youssef Siher, the Mind of the Movement October 17: Researcher Ispi, Activist Pro Pal, 30-Year-Old Brescia Second Generation
- [La Verità](https://laverita.info/video/cronaca-video/origini-marocchine-e-pro-pal-chi-e-la-mente-dietro-al-movimento-17-ottobre) — Moroccan Origins and Pro Pal: Who Is the Mind Behind the Movement October 17
- [La Repubblica](https://milano.repubblica.it/cronaca/2026/10/24/news/youssef_siher_ideatore_chat_movimento_17_ottobre_fermato-425672487) — Propal, 30 Years Old, Freelance: in the Police Station the Creator of the Chat "Movement 17 October"
- [La Stampa](https://lastampa.it/cronaca/2026/10/24/news/movimento_17_ottobre_chi_e_mente_siher_youssef-15775870) — From the Doctorate to the Digos Investigations: Who Is Youssef Siher, Suspected for the Movement October 17
- [ANSA](https://ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2026/10/24/chi-e-la-mente-del-movimento-17-ottobre-sarebbe-un-ricercatore-con-dottorato_7ea4ecc5-fc85-49fe-b151-c71e6855e75d.html) — Who Is the Mind of the Movement October 17, Would Be a PhD Researcher
- [The Social Post](https://thesocialpost.it/2026/10/24/e-proprio-lui-movimento-17-ottobre-ecco-chi-e-il-fondatore) — "It's Him!" Movement 17 October: that's Who the Founder Is.

## Questions

**Who is Youssef Siher?**

Youssef Siher is a 30-year-old Italian of second-generation Moroccan origin. He is identified as the alleged creator of the Instagram page 'Movement 17 October' and is being investigated for incitement to commit crimes, aggravated by terrorism.

**What is Siher being investigated for?**

Siher is being investigated for incitement to commit crimes, with the charges aggravated by terrorism and the use of computer means. This is in relation to his alleged role in creating and managing the 'Movement 17 October' Instagram page.

**How was Siher identified?**

Italian intelligence services, specifically Aisi, are credited with identifying Youssef Siher through social media monitoring. This work tracked activity on the web in the days leading up to his identification.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/italian-police-identify-researcher-youssef-siher-as-alleged-creator-of-protest-p. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Italian police identify researcher Youssef Siher as alleged creator of protest page", https://mediabias.news/politics/italian-police-identify-researcher-youssef-siher-as-alleged-creator-of-protest-p