Six people have been arrested after police clashed with protesters in Milan, one of the hosts of the Winter Olympic Games, during the first day of the competition.
Thousands took to the streets of the city in northern Italy on Saturday to protest against a range of issues including the cost of living. Some fired flares and threw stones at police, who responded with water cannon.
It comes after the government tightened protest laws in the wake of a demonstration last weekend in Turin that left more than 100 officers injured, according to government figures.
Meanwhile, officials are investigating suspected sabotage on northern Italy's railway network on Saturday.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described those involved in confrontations in Milan as criminals and noted, Just days after the shameful violence in Turin, more clashes, more attacks on law enforcement. He emphasized the need for a new security package to combat unrest.
The Turin demonstration, which was triggered by the eviction of an unofficial social centre, saw peaceful beginnings turn violent, resulting in more than 30 arrests. One officer was reportedly attacked with a hammer in what Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni termed attempted murder.
A security package adopted recently allows police to detain suspected troublemakers prior to demonstrations to avert unrest, though critics have labeled it repressive.
Most protesters in Milan acted peacefully, with some, like Francesca Missana, voicing concerns over the sustainability of the Olympics from both an environmental and social standpoint, while organizers claim billions had been wasted on infrastructure instead of safeguarding nature.
In another troubling development, chaos on Italy's northern rail networks was reported, including attacks that resulted in significant delays. Fire and explosives were found near Bologna's central railway station, further raising concerns about safety and potential sabotage.
The transport ministry characterized the incidents as serious and echoed concerns over the implications for the upcoming Olympic events, which continue until February 22 across various locations in Italy.
