Northern Italy's railway network has experienced severe travel disruption following suspected attacks, coinciding with the start of the Winter Olympic Games. Authorities reported three distinct incidents involving damage to railway lines, which are believed to be connected to the Games. These acts have been labeled as "serious sabotage" by the Ministry of Transport, drawing parallels to vandalism that occurred during the Paris Olympics in 2024.

One of the initial incidents involved a fire that affected rail infrastructure situated between Bologna and Venice, leading to significant delays of up to two-and-a-half hours. Subsequently, police discovered severed cables and a rudimentary explosive device in the vicinity. Another incident saw a track switch intentionally set alight near Pesaro, located on the Adriatic coast. Several hours after the Pesaro incident, police found additional severed electric cables and another crude explosive device near Bologna.

Bologna's rail station is a critical transportation hub, serving as a major link for cities across northern and southern Italy, as well as connecting east-to-west lines. The city's high-speed, state-owned railway was temporarily shut down due to the incidents but traffic began returning to normal by Saturday afternoon.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the actions, stating, "These actions of unprecedented seriousness do not in any way tarnish Italy's image in the world, an image that the Games will make even more compelling and positive." Salvini also highlighted the similarities in both action and timing to the sabotage that disrupted France's high-speed rail network during the Paris Summer Olympics, as reported by AFP. A police spokesperson confirmed that an investigation into the incidents is underway, and no group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games took place on Friday evening, hosted across Milan, Cortina in northeastern Italy, and two other venues. Both Milan and Cortina are accessible by train from Venice. The events for the Games are geographically widespread, covering hundreds of miles across northern Italy, including locations within the Alps and Dolomite mountains.