Six people were arrested after police clashed with protesters in Milan on the first day of the Winter Olympic Games.
Thousands took to the streets in the northern Italian city on Saturday to protest against the Games and broader issues, including the rising cost of living. Some demonstrators threw stones and set off fireworks, prompting police to respond with water cannon.
Government tightens protest laws
The protests follow a violent demonstration last weekend in Turin, where more than 100 officers were reportedly injured. In response, the Italian government fast-tracked a new security package allowing police to detain suspected troublemakers for up to 12 hours before demonstrations. Critics have labelled the measures as repressive.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called anti-Olympic protesters the “enemy of Italy,” accusing them of broadcasting images of unrest worldwide, while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini labelled the Milan confrontations “criminal behaviour.”
Suspected sabotage hits northern railways
Authorities are also investigating suspected sabotage on northern Italy’s rail network. A fire broke out between Bologna and Venice, and police found severed cables and a rudimentary explosive device near Bologna and Pesaro.
Bologna’s central station, a key transport hub linking the north and south of Italy, faced delays, though services have since returned to normal. The transport ministry described the incidents as “suspected sabotage,” echoing similar vandalism during the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Protests highlight environmental and social concerns
While some protesters engaged in clashes, many marched peacefully. Francesca Missana told AFP that the Games were “no longer sustainable from an environmental or a social point of view.” Organiser Alberto di Monte criticised billions spent on roads rather than protecting the mountains and questioned the Games’ sustainability claims.
Olympic locations under heightened security
The Winter Olympics are taking place until 22 February across several locations in northern Italy, including Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Dolomites of Predazzo and Tesero, and the Alpine resorts of Livigno and Bormio.
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