Thanks MF:
BBC:
Italy says railways hit by 'serious sabotage' as Winter Olympics begin
11 hours ago
Rachel Muller-Heyndyk
NurPhoto
Suspected attacks on northern Italy's railway network have led to severe travel disruption in the region, the authorities say, as thousands gathered for the start of the Winter Olympic Games.
Police reported three separate incidents involving damage to railway lines that they believe are connected to the Games.
A fire hit rail infrastructure between Bologna and Venice, triggering delays of up to two-and-a-half hours, and police later found severed cables and an explosive device in locations nearby.
The Ministry of Transport called the incidents an act of "serious sabotage", which they said mirrored vandalism during the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Police said a track switch was set alight near Pesaro, on the Adriatic coast. Several hours later, police discovered severed electric cables near Bologna, along with a rudimentary explosive device left by a track nearby.
Bologna's rail station is a major transport hub, linking cities in the north and south, and east to west lines.
"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," said Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.
A police spokesperson earlier said that they were investigating the incidents and that no one had claimed responsibility.
Salvini compared the events to the Paris Summer Olympics, when saboteurs damaged France's high speed rail network.
"There are similarities in action and timing to the French incident," he told AFP.
Bologna's high speed, state-owned railway had to temporarily close, but traffic was returning to normal by Saturday afternoon.
The opening ceremony of the Games took place on Friday evening in Milan, in Cortina in northeastern Italy and two other locations. Milan and Cortina are both reachable by train from Venice.
Events are spread over hundreds of miles of northern Italy, in locations including the Alps and Dolomite mountains.
Suspected attacks on northern Italy's railway network have led to severe travel disruption in the region, the authorities say, as thousands gathered for the start of the Winter Olympic Games.
Police reported three separate incidents involving damage to railway lines that they believe are connected to the Games.
A fire hit rail infrastructure between Bologna and Venice, triggering delays of up to two-and-a-half hours, and police later found severed cables and an explosive device in locations nearby.
The Ministry of Transport called the incidents an act of "serious sabotage", which they said mirrored vandalism during the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Police said a track switch was set alight near Pesaro, on the Adriatic coast. Several hours later, police discovered severed electric cables near Bologna, along with a rudimentary explosive device left by a track nearby.
Bologna's rail station is a major transport hub, linking cities in the north and south, and east to west lines.
"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," said Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.
A police spokesperson earlier said that they were investigating the incidents and that no one had claimed responsibility.
Salvini compared the events to the Paris Summer Olympics, when saboteurs damaged France's high speed rail network.
"There are similarities in action and timing to the French incident," he told AFP.
Bologna's high speed, state-owned railway had to temporarily close, but traffic was returning to normal by Saturday afternoon.
The opening ceremony of the Games took place on Friday evening in Milan, in Cortina in northeastern Italy and two other locations. Milan and Cortina are both reachable by train from Venice.
Events are spread over hundreds of miles of northern Italy, in locations including the Alps and Dolomite mountains.
Italy was already warned months ago that there are active Russian plots to disrupt the Winter Olympics, partly as punishing Europe for (mostly) providing aid to Ukraine against the Russian invasion, and.partly as revenge for excluding Russia from participating in the Olympics.
ReplyDeleteIt is unclear whether the latest incidents are the work of the Russians, but I'm sure investigations will get to the bottom of this.
unclear!
Delete& yet, u r game to fart about yr unproven theory.
Wow…
There is a rail line between Domodossola in Italy to Locarno in Switzerland, that passed through the Italian northwest to north mountain. One of the most rustic ride ever in the late summer, early autumn months, where it felt like another dimension, in the late afternoon journey...those were the days.
ReplyDeleteBtw...forgot to chime in the other day...met a couple from Russia Sibrria, here in Amway Malaysia HQ, probably some Amway spinsor event in Malaysia for Russia and Central Asia. The stayed in the classical Msjestic Hotel. What with the Russian sanction charade? American Way is truly entrenched in Russia, and ghey come sbout paying for their stay in good of Malaysia with whose credit card payment system?
Cheers on a Sunday afternoon. Prettylaidback sky now, cloudy and moody for a weekend sleep but alas, gotta work.