Italy’s Transport Ministry says rail infrastructure in the country’s north was deliberately targeted in what authorities are treating as suspected sabotage, disrupting travel on the opening day of the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
Police told Italy’s ANSA news agency they are probing three separate incidents around Bologna and have not ruled out any link to the Olympics. At dawn near the coastal city of Pesaro, a structure that houses a track switch was deliberately set on fire. Hours later, in Bologna, electrical cables used to detect train speeds were found cut, and a makeshift explosive device was discovered beside a nearby track.
“The serious incidents of sabotage that occurred this morning near Bologna train station and in Pesaro, causing significant disruption to thousands of travelers, are worrying,” Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said in a statement.
The Transport Ministry noted parallels with attacks on France’s high-speed rail network that occurred ahead of the Paris Olympics in July 2024. “There are similarities in action and timing,” AFP quoted a spokesperson for Salvini as saying. The ministry added that such actions “do not in any way tarnish Italy’s image in the world, an image that the games will make even more compelling and positive.”
Bologna serves as a major east–west transport hub and is a key junction between southern cities and northern destinations such as Milan and Venice. Milan is co-hosting the Winter Games with Cortina; Cortina is also reachable by train from Venice, making the functioning rail network important for spectators and athletes alike.
Investigations are ongoing as police examine the damaged sites and seek to determine responsibility and motive. Authorities have stepped up security and are working to restore services and reassure travelers.
Edited by Zac Crellin.