The start of the 2026 Winter Olympics was marred by a series of deliberate attacks on railway infrastructure in northern Italy. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the incidents, although authorities do not rule out a link with radical sectors opposing the holding of the Olympics. Despite traffic beginning to gradually normalize after several hours of disruption, the tense climate persists. Prime Minister Meloni warned that those who attempt to boycott the event will be considered 'enemies of Italy,' while security is being reinforced across the entire railway network to guarantee the transfer of the thousands of athletes and tourists heading to the venues in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Investigations are now focusing on the 'invisible' layer of the infrastructure, such as pipelines and control centers, to prevent future incidents that could jeopardize the Olympic logistics. The Giorgia Meloni government described the incidents as 'sabotage of unprecedented severity,' while the anti-terrorist police investigates three separate incidents that occurred between the early morning and morning on Saturday. The attacks, which included arson at switch points and the systematic cutting of signaling cables, particularly affected the lines connecting Bologna with Venice, Milan, and Florence, causing delays of up to 150 minutes and the cancellation of numerous regional and high-speed services. Near Bologna, one of Europe's most busy railway hubs, police experts found cut electrical cables and a rudimentary explosive device abandoned along the tracks, reinforcing the hypothesis of a coordinated action aimed at demonstrating the system's vulnerability during the international event. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini denounced coordinated criminal acts. According to what the Argentine News Agency learned, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini drew a direct parallel with the attacks suffered by the TGV network in France during the 2024 Paris Games, stating that 'there are similarities both in the modality and in the moment chosen.'
