A protest against the Winter Olympics in Milan turned violent on Saturday evening after hours of largely peaceful demonstrations, as Italian authorities simultaneously investigated a series of suspicious incidents on railway lines in northern Italy that officials fear may amount to coordinated sabotage.
The protest began in the afternoon with demonstrators marching peacefully through Milan, holding signs, chanting slogans, and moving arm-in-arm. The march was organised by the Unsustainable Olympics Committee, an activist group opposing the 2026 Winter Olympics, and drew participants from Milan, the Lombardy region, and other parts of northern Italy.
Protesters voiced opposition to the environmental impact of Olympic infrastructure projects and criticised what they described as the economic and social consequences of hosting the Games. The organisers brought together a broad coalition of grassroots sports organisations, civic and environmental movements, student groups, housing activists, trade unions, pro-Palestinian networks, and transfeminist collectives.
Demonstrators also raised broader concerns about what they described as an “authoritarian security drift” by the Italian government and its treatment of racial minorities.
Escalation near Olympic sites
The march set off from Piazza Medaglie d’Oro and proceeded toward areas near the Olympic Village, which was secured by a large police cordon. As protesters passed close to the athletes’ housing, some individuals threw firecrackers and smoke bombs in the direction of the site. Authorities said the objects could not reach the buildings due to distance and security measures.
Tensions escalated after the march diverted onto Via Benaco and reached Piazzale Corvetto. A smaller group of protesters began throwing fireworks at police officers, prompting a police charge. Protesters later targeted police vans with additional fireworks.
Police responded by deploying water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Officials noted that not all demonstrators participated in the clashes, with many remaining in the main area of the square and not engaging in violence.
No immediate reports of serious injuries were released by authorities.
Olympic opening held amid unrest
The unrest came one day after the official opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics, which was marked by a high-profile ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium. The event celebrated Italy’s art and cultural heritage and featured performances by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and American singer Mariah Carey.
Security across Olympic venues has been heightened as Italy hosts the Games, with officials emphasising the need to ensure the safety of athletes, spectators, and infrastructure.
Railway incidents under investigation
Separately from the Milan protest, authorities are investigating a series of incidents affecting railway infrastructure in northern Italy, raising concerns about possible coordinated sabotage.
In Bologna, railway services were severely disrupted on Saturday after three separate incidents of damage were discovered. According to Italy’s rail network operator Ferrovie dello Stato and the Ansa news agency, investigators found a rudimentary explosive device placed on a switch along the Bologna-Padova line.
In addition, electrical cables were cut on a high-speed railway line, while a fire was reported at an electrical cabin in the Adriatic coastal town of Pesaro.
Italy’s transport minister said the incidents appeared to be a “premeditated attack” on the railway network. Investigators have not ruled out the involvement of anarchist groups, citing similarities to acts of sabotage carried out on French rail lines during the 2024 Paris Olympics, when high-speed train services were targeted by arson and other malicious acts.
Speaking from Bormio, where he was attending the men’s downhill ski race, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the incidents, describing them as an “act of delinquency.”
Authorities have not officially linked the railway incidents to the Milan protest, but investigations are ongoing as security services assess potential threats linked to the Olympic Games.