On the first day of the Winter Olympic Games held in Milan-Cortina, Italy, sabotage incidents on railway lines in northern Italy have caused significant disruptions to train services. High-speed and regional trains faced delays, with the situation only being resolved by Saturday afternoon. Italian police reported that acts of sabotage were recorded in three different locations, raising concerns about security during this international sporting event.

Early Saturday morning, an electrical distribution cabinet was set on fire near the coastal city of Pesaro, while in Bologna, unknown individuals cut a cable used for measuring train speed. Additionally, a crude explosive device was discovered on the railway segment between Bologna and Padua, prompting urgent safety measures. Bologna station, a critical hub for high-speed train traffic, had to be temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.

The Italian Ministry of Transport characterized these incidents as serious acts of sabotage and has involved the Italian anti-terrorism unit in the investigation. While the police stated that the sabotage incidents appear to be interconnected, nobody has claimed responsibility for these actions as of yet. The incidents raise serious concerns about safety and security as the Olympic Games attract global attention, highlighting the vulnerabilities of infrastructure during such significant events.