FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Interior minister, Angelino Alfano, added he would double the number of officers in the army to handle the chaos. Mr Alfano said: "We will send 150 more soldiers to Milan to support the police, who are already operating at the highest level. "When I became minister there were 400 military officers. The goal is to double that number."

GETTY Angelino Alfano, Italy's Interior minister is sending in troops to deal with the migrants

We will send 150 more soldiers to Milan to support the police, who are already operating at the highest level Angelino Alfano, Interior minister

The minister was speaking at a security summit in Milan where the city's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, said he begged the government to intervene after the city became overrun with migrants. Mayor Sala said: "We are working to prevent and take action where necessary, so we asked the government to increase the number of soldiers that are already in the city." During the summit, which was held in the Palazzo Marino, it was also decided that military will be redirected from Rome to the city to deal with the crisis.

GETTY Italian police are already stretched to capacity

GETTY The city of Milan is reaching breaking point

The mayor and government minister said the army will be in charge of "supervision of sensitive sites" while police will look after other key places such as the main train station where migrant gangs gather. Mayor Sala said: "We believe in the use of mixed patrols and more military officers will strengthen those forces in the most difficult routes and meeting places." The announcement comes after a knife fight broke out between migrants from the Philippines in the city.

GETTY The government says Milan has already had more than its quota of migrants

The mayor also announced he his halting all new arrivals of migrants in the city until the situation is under control. Mr Alfano said the city had "already done its part" to help deal with the migrant crisis and Italy needed a more coordinated effort between cities to make sure all were pulling their weight. He added: "It has reached its quota. There will be a stop to migrant arrivals. The weight of immigration feels heavy because there are municipalities that do not accept migrants and others have to cope. We'll try to get them to work together."

GETTY Italy's Interior Minister has said no more migrants can enter the city

In pictures: Crises that have crippled Italy Thu, November 2, 2017 The European Union has warned that Italy's economy is not improving Play slideshow EPA 1 of 9 November 2016: Florence erupts in violence as anti-Renzi protesters clash with riot cops. Hooded youths attacked lines of cops protecting embattled prime minister Matteo Renzi, who was in the city for crunch political talks.