Italian police reported the risk of sabotage on the railway on the first day of the Olympics

Italian authorities have announced possible sabotage on railway tracks on the first full day of the Winter Olympic Games. This was reported on February 7 by the Reuters news agency with reference to the Italian Ministry of Transport.

Police reported three separate incidents in different locations near the northern Italian city of Bologna, which caused train delays of up to 2.5 hours. The state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato railway was forced to temporarily close its high-speed station in Bologna.

According to police, a hut with a rail switch was set on fire near Pesaro, and in Bologna, electrical cables were cut and a primitive explosive device was discovered. No one has claimed responsibility for the incidents.

"These unprecedentedly serious actions in no way spoil Italy's image in the world, an image that the Games will make even more convincing and positive," the agency quoted the ministry as saying.

The agency called the incident an act of "serious sabotage," adding that it repeats the opening day of the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

Olympic Games Program-2026: schedule by day and which Russian athletes are allowed

The competition will be held in February 2026 in Italy.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games officially started in Milan, Italy, on February 6, when the opening ceremony took place. The competition will be held until February 22. 13 athletes from Russia will participate in the Olympics this year. However, they were not allowed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to participate in the opening ceremony.

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