On the morning of February 7, 2026, severe sabotage incidents disrupted Italy’s high-speed rail traffic in the Bologna railway node and near Pesaro on the Ancona–Rimini line. The Bologna incident involved deliberate damage to essential railway cables connecting the Bologna–Venice line to the Bologna AV station, detected by RFI and reported to Polfer police. The Pesaro incident featured an arson attack on a cabin controlling a railway switch. These attacks caused over two hours of delays and rerouting of high-speed trains to surface tracks, disrupting thousands of passengers. The Gruppo FS confirmed the progressive resumption of service following technical restoration efforts. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, citing similarities to terrorist acts preceding the Paris Olympics, condemned the sabotage and emphasized the ongoing police investigation. Minister Matteo Salvini, present at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics venue, called the attacks deliberate acts intending harm to Italy during the Olympic Games. The incidents underscore a security challenge coinciding with Italy hosting major international sports events, reflecting concerns over politically motivated infrastructure attacks.
Category: Terrorism & Criminal Proxy Tactics
Subcategory: Terrorism
Incident Type: Bomb threats, assassination plots, targeted killings
Country: Italy
Source report: www.corriere.it/economia/…
