ARCHIVAL PHOTO. Police clashes with demonstrators in Milan, Italy, February 7, 2026. © Getty Images / Elisa Marchina; NurPhoto
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned protesters and saboteurs who opposed the Olympic Games, calling them "the enemies of Italy" after violent clashes in Milan and disruptions in the national railway network on the weekend. The incidents occurred during the first full day of the Olympic Winter Games of Milan-Cortina 2026.
On Saturday, around 10,000 people marched in Milan, protesting against the games, citing their environmental and economical impact.
They besides opposed the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Service (ICE) officers who aid to guarantee the safety of American officials.
This agency was active in the fatal shooting of 2 U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month.
A tiny group of about 100 people later broke off from most of the peaceful march and clashed with police who utilized teardrop gas and water cannons to reconstruct order.
In a message published on Sunday on Instagram, Meloni compiled volunteer work with those behind the riots.
“There are besides those who are enemies of Italy and Italy” She wrote, referring to protesters and railway saboteurs, expressing solidarity with police and workers, "whose work will be destroyed by these gangs of criminals".
The Italian Ministry of Transport launched an investigation into terrorism on the coordinated sabotage of railway lines close Bologna and Pesaro on Saturday, where infrastructure was to be burned or cut, causing hours of delays for thousands of passengers.
No 1 admitted work for the damage.
A spokesperson for the global Olympic Committee, Mark Adams, stated that although peaceful protest is justified, “We set a limit to violence” which "no place at the Olympics".
The riot occurred after Meloni's government approved a fresh safety decree that allows police to detain persons for up to 12 hours if there are grounds to believe that they could take action to disrupt peaceful protests.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/632205-italy-meloni-olympic-protests/