Saboteurs Disrupt Italian Rail Network Amid 2026 Winter Olympics, Causing Travel Delays
Saboteurs targeted the rail infrastructure near Bologna, Italy, on the first full day of the 2026 Winter Olympics, causing significant travel disruptions. The Italian Transport Ministry reported that the incidents involved three separate acts of sabotage, including setting fire to a track switch cabin, severing electrical cables, and placing a rudimentary explosive device near a track. These actions resulted in delays of up to 2.5 hours for high-speed, Intercity, and regional train services. Bologna serves as a crucial junction for Italy's rail network, linking southern regions to northern cities like Milan and Venice, which are co-hosting the Winter Games. The Transport Ministry condemned the acts as 'serious sabotage,' drawing parallels to similar disruptions during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.