Suspected sabotage disrupted Italy’s rail network during the 2026 Winter Olympics, causing major delays before services resumed.

Suspected sabotage disrupted Italy’s rail network on the first full day of the 2026 Winter Olympics, with three separate incidents near Bologna and Pesaro causing major delays for high-speed, intercity, and regional trains. Authorities reported a fire at a track switch cabin, severed electrical cables, and a crude explosive device, all appearing coordinated. The state-owned railway company temporarily closed Bologna’s high-speed station, a key transit hub, but services resumed by Saturday afternoon. The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure labeled the acts “serious sabotage,” drawing comparisons to attacks on France’s TGV network before the 2024 Paris Olympics. No group has claimed responsibility, and officials stressed the incidents would not harm Italy’s global image as the Games proceed in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.