What began as a peaceful demonstration in Milan against the Winter Olympics 2026 escalated into violent clashes on Saturday night, as Italian authorities also scrambled to investigate suspected railway sabotage in the north of the country.
Earlier in the day, protesters marched through the streets of Milan, holding signs, linking arms, singing, and dancing. However, the atmosphere shifted after dark when some demonstrators targeted police officers and their vehicles, prompting law enforcement to respond with tear gas and water cannons.
The unrest coincides with a separate investigation into incidents on northern Italian rail lines, which authorities fear may be deliberate acts of sabotage.
The march, organized by the activist group Unsustainable Olympics Committee, attracted participants from Milan, Lombardy, and beyond. Protesters voiced their opposition to the environmental consequences of Olympic construction, as well as what they described as the “economic and social harm” caused by the Games.
The committee has mobilized a diverse coalition, including grassroots sports groups, civic and environmental movements, students, housing activists, combative unions, pro-Palestine networks, and transfeminist collectives.
Their activism also extends to broader concerns, particularly criticizing what they see as the Italian government’s “authoritarian security drift” and its treatment of racial minorities.
The Winter Olympics officially kicked off on Friday with a glittering opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan, celebrating Italian art and culture, featuring performances by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and American singer Mariah Carey.
How the protest unfolded
The demonstration began at Piazza Medaglie d’Oro, proceeding toward the Olympic Village, which was heavily secured by police.
A few protesters launched firecrackers and smoke bombs in the direction of athletes’ housing, though the objects did not reach the buildings.
The march eventually turned onto Via Benaco, moving away from the Olympic Village, with confrontations erupting at Piazzale Corvetto.
A smaller faction threw fireworks at police, who responded with a charge. Protesters also targeted police vans with additional fireworks, prompting officers to deploy water cannons and tear gas.
Despite the clashes, many demonstrators remained in the main area of the square, not engaging in violence.
Railway sabotage in Bologna
Meanwhile, in Bologna, northern Italy, rail services experienced major disruptions on Saturday amid fears of a “premeditated attack,” according to Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.
Investigators discovered three separate incidents of damage, including a rudimentary explosive device on a switch of the Bologna-Padova line, as reported by Italy’s rail network Ferrovie dello Stato and Ansa news agency.
Electrical cables on a high-speed line were severed, and a fire was set at an electrical cabin in Pesaro, according to the railway network.
Authorities are not ruling out anarchist involvement, drawing parallels to similar attacks on France’s high-speed rail network during the 2024 Paris Olympics, which included arson and other acts of sabotage.
Speaking from Bormio, where he was attending the men’s downhill ski race, Minister Salvini condemned the incidents as “an act of delinquency.”
He added, “If it is confirmed that the interruption on the high-speed line is the result of a premeditated attack, on the first day of the Olympics, let’s say that someone wishes ill upon Italy.”
