Meloni brands Olympic protesters ‘enemies of Italy’

“Criminal gangs” are undermining the Winter Games, the Italian prime minister has said

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned anti-Olympics protesters and saboteurs as “enemies of Italy,” following violent clashes in Milan and disruption to the national rail network over the weekend. The incidents occurred during the first full day of competition at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.  

On Saturday, about 10,000 people marched in Milan to protest the Games, citing their environmental and economic impact. They also opposed the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel who are assisting with security for American officials. The agency was involved in the fatal shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis last month. 

A small group of around 100 later broke away from the largely peaceful march and clashed with police, who used tear gas and water cannons to restore order.  

In a statement posted on Instagram on Sunday, Meloni contrasted the work of volunteers with those behind the unrest. 

“Then there are those who are enemies of Italy and Italians,” she wrote, referring to protesters and rail saboteurs, and expressing solidarity with police and workers “whose work will be undermined by these gangs of criminals.” 

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The Italian Transport Ministry has opened a terrorism investigation into the coordinated sabotage of railway lines near Bologna and Pesaro on Saturday where infrastructure was reportedly burned or cut, causing hours of delays for thousands of passengers. No one has claimed responsibility for the damage. 

International Olympic Committee spokesperson Mark Adams stated that while peaceful protest is legitimate, “we draw a line at violence,” which “has no place at the Olympic Games.” 

The clashes followed the approval of a new security decree by Meloni’s government, which allows police to detain individuals for up to 12 hours if there is reason to believe they may act to disrupt peaceful protests.