Saboteurs damage Italian rail near Bologna disrupting Winter Olympics

Suspected Saboteurs Damage Italian Rail Near Bologna

On the first full day of the Winter Olympics, suspected saboteurs targeted the Italian rail network near Bologna, causing significant disruptions. The Transport Ministry reported three separate incidents at various locations, leading to delays lasting over two hours for high-speed, intercity, and regional services.

The acts of sabotage were described as 'serious' by the ministry, drawing parallels with similar incidents on France's TGV trains during the opening day of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Police confirmed that a cabin housing a track switch was set on fire near Pesaro, while electrical cables used to detect train speeds were severed in Bologna and a rudimentary explosive device was found at another location.

Despite these incidents, the state-owned railway Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) managed to restore normal rail operations by Saturday afternoon. No group has claimed responsibility for the acts of sabotage so far. Bologna serves as a crucial junction for Italy's east-to-west rail lines and is the key hub linking southern and northern cities like Milan and Venice, which are co-hosts of the Winter Games alongside Cortina.