Three incidents of damage to rail infrastructure around Bologna in northern Italy are being investigated. Authorities said journeys to day one of the Winter Olympic Games have been disrupted.
Italy’s Transport Ministry on Saturday said that rail infrastructure in northern Italy had been the target of sabotage, which ultimately impacted journeys to day one of Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
Police said they are investigating three incidents of damage to rail infrastructure around Bologna and have not ruled out the possibility that it may be linked to the opening of the Winter Olympics, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported.
Police said a structure housing a track switch was set on fire at dawn near the coastal city of Pesaro.
Hours later, electrical cables used to detect train speeds were found to have been cut in Bologna, while a makeshift explosive device was found along a nearby track.
Three incidents of damage to rail infrastructure around Bologna in northern Italy are being investigated. Authorities said journeys to day one of the Winter Olympic Games have been disrupted.
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Emergency services stand near a train and sign for Pesaro station, where one of the incidents took place
Three separate incidents at different locations were reported, causing delays of up to two-and-a-half hours for high-speed, Intercity and regional servicesImage: Davide Gennari/LaPresse/ZUMA/picture alliance
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Italy’s Transport Ministry on Saturday said that rail infrastructure in northern Italy had been the target of sabotage, which ultimately impacted journeys to day one of Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
Police said they are investigating three incidents of damage to rail infrastructure around Bologna and have not ruled out the possibility that it may be linked to the opening of the Winter Olympics, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported.
Police said a structure housing a track switch was set on fire at dawn near the coastal city of Pesaro.
Hours later, electrical cables used to detect train speeds were found to have been cut in Bologna, while a makeshift explosive device was found along a nearby track.
A policeman and a forensics officer pictured standing near railway lines in PesaroA policeman and a forensics officer pictured standing near railway lines in Pesaro
Police have not ruled out a potential link to the Milan Cortina GamesImage: Davide Gennari/LaPresse/ZUMA/picture alliance
‘Thousands’ of travelers impacted
“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,” Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said in a statement.
The Transport Ministry noted that France’s high-speed rail network had also been sabotaged ahead of the Olympic games held in July 2024.
“There are similarities in action and timing” to the French incident, AFP news agency quoted Salvini’s spokesperson as saying.
“These actions of unprecedented seriousness do not in any way tarnish Italy’s image in the world, an image that the games will make even more compelling and positive,” the ministry said.
Bologna is a major transport hub for Italy’s east-to-west rail service, and is also a key link for the south to northern cities such as Milan and Venice.
Milan is co-hosting the Winter Games alongside Cortina, reachable by train from Venice.
