Violence broke out in Milan, the host city of the 2026 Winter Olympics "Milan-Cortina," after protesters clashed with riot police in central Milan. At the same time, sabotage was carried out on the northern railway network and an improvised explosive device was found, leading to major travel disruptions.
Tensions escalated in Milan, Italy, on the first day of the Winter Olympics last Saturday (7 Feb), when police used high-pressure water cannons to disperse about 100 protesters who had broken away from the main march to throw firecrackers, smoke bombs, and water bottles at officers.
The clash occurred amid a protest of around 10,000 people marching against the Olympics, citing rising living costs and environmental issues. Activists said Milan’s current urban development model has caused rent to soar beyond residents' means, worsening social inequality.
Stefano Nutini, 71, one of the protesters, said, "This Olympics is unsustainable economically, socially, and environmentally," pointing out that infrastructure projects place heavy burdens on mountain communities, despite the International Olympic Committee (IOC) emphasizing the use of existing venues for sustainability.
The Milan incident resulted in six arrests, while security in Rome and Milan, Italy’s financial hub, was raised to the highest level following violent clashes in Turin last week that left over 100 police officers injured.
On the same day, Italian authorities reported three major "serious sabotage" incidents targeting the northern railway network, causing train delays exceeding two and a half hours and affecting travel for many sports fans and tourists.
The most severe damage occurred between Bologna and Venice, where officials found cut cables and an "improvised explosive device" placed near the railway tracks. Additionally, arson attacks targeted railway switch points near Pesaro on the Adriatic coast.
Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, condemned the incidents as "an attempt to damage the country's image," noting similarities with the 2024 Paris Olympics railway sabotage.
Police are currently intensifying investigations to identify the perpetrators, with no group claiming responsibility for the sabotage amid heightened security measures at all strategic Olympic venues.