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By Hollie Silverman
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The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs warned Americans traveling in Italy to exercise caution on railways during the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics after Italian officials reported suspected sabotage and arson affecting multiple lines.
The warning came Saturday following a series of incidents Italian authorities described as “serious sabotage” during the first days of the Games, including fires, severed cables, and a rudimentary explosive device near Bologna that disrupted service and delayed trains by up to two-and-a-half hours, according to the Transport Ministry.
Why it Matters
The warning came as Italy hosted the 2026 Winter Olympics across northern regions, placing extraordinary pressure on high-speed and regional rail links that move athletes, officials, and spectators between venues.
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Italy’s rail network connects major Olympic host and hub cities—including Milan, Bologna, and lines serving northern mountain venues—making security and reliability critical as tens of thousands of visitors move between events spread across northern Italy.
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What To Know
The State Department’s consular said in a post on X Saturday that Italian officials announced suspected sabotage on February 14 affecting multiple lines linked to Rome, citing damage on the Rome–Naples, Rome–Florence, and Rome–Milan high-speed routes, and urged travelers to check rail websites and budget extra time.
As a result, American travelers were urged to avoid affected areas, maintain situational awareness, leave disrupted zones immediately, budget extra time, and monitor local media and rail websites for updates.
Series of travel-related incidents during Winter Olympics
On February 7, police and the Transport Ministry reported three separate incidents—including a track-switch cabin fire near Pesaro, severed electrical cables near Bologna, and discovery of a rudimentary explosive device—that caused delays up to two-and-a-half hours and briefly closed Bologna’s high-speed station before service normalized, multiple outlets reported.
Italian authorities subsequently increased patrols and technical monitoring along rail corridors to prevent further disruptions, the State Department post said, aligning with domestic security responses around Olympic transport nodes.
In a separate February 11 incident, suspected sabotage damaged a small section of the Lecco–Tirano line toward mountain venues Bormio and Livigno.
Technicians restored safe conditions before the morning rush and no one claimed responsibility, the rail operator said, while police reported early assessments pointing to arson after finding remnants of a flammable-liquid bottle at the site near Abbadia Lariana, Reuters reported.
Anarchist group claimed responsibility for opening weekend sabotage
An anarchist group claimed responsibility for three February 7 sabotage attempts in a post titled “Fire to the Olympics,” according to Italian media accounts cited by Anadolu Agency.
Prosecutors in Bologna prepared a terrorism investigation into attempts near Bologna and Pesaro, the outlet reported.
Authorities did not report injuries in the incidents described by police and the Transport Ministry, and investigations remained open as of mid-February with officials probing potential links to the Olympics and parallels to sabotage seen before the Paris 2024 Games, the BBC reported.
What People Are Saying
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini on social media Saturday: "Odious criminal acts against workers and against Italy. Surveillance has been increased and we have stepped up inspections to root out these criminals, hoping that no one downplays or justifies criminal acts that put people’s lives at risk."
The State Department said on X Saturday: "Actions to Take: "{Avoid areas of disruption and exercise caution when traveling by train. Utilize good situational awareness and attempt to leave any affected areas immediately. Budget extra travel time and anticipate possible delays. Monitor local media and railway websites for updates."
What Happens Next
Italian police and prosecutors continued investigations into multiple incidents, including arson near Lake Como and coordinated sabotage near Bologna and Pesaro, while rail operator Ferrovie dello Stato reported service normalization after repairs and heightened monitoring, multiple news outlets reported.
U.S. officials advised travelers to continue checking operator websites and local media for disruptions during the Games period, with security patrols and technical monitoring increased along key corridors.
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