Italian Police Clash With Protesters Near Milan Olympic Rink
Police used water cannon and tear gas near Santagiulia Arena on Feb. 7, 2026, after protesters set off firecrackers and smoke bombs, officials said.
Overview
Milan police fired tear gas and deployed a water cannon near the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 7, 2026, to disperse hooded protesters who set off firecrackers and smoke bombs, officials said.
About 10,000 people marched peacefully earlier on Feb. 7, 2026, to protest the environmental and social impact of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Milan police and organizers said.
Italy's Cabinet approved a security decree on Feb. 5, 2026, allowing police to detain suspected agitators for up to 12 hours, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told parliament.
Authorities deployed about 6,000 security personnel across Olympic sites and secured roads to an Olympic Village housing roughly 1,500 athletes, officials said.
Accounts were marked by conflicting reports over arrests and ICE presence, with Milan police saying at least five detentions while the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee denied ICE operational involvement, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the events as a largely peaceful protest marred by a small violent faction, foregrounding police response and security rationale. Through vivid incident details, emphasis on arrests and prior Turin violence, and noting minimal disruption to athletes, coverage implicitly legitimizes enhanced policing while backgrounding protesters' broader grievances.
Sources (8)
FAQ
Protesters marched against the environmental and social impacts of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, including housing costs, soaring rents, deepening inequality, and damage to mountain communities from infrastructure projects.
Police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse hooded protesters who had set off firecrackers and smoke bombs near the arena.
About 10,000 people marched peacefully earlier that day to protest the Olympics' impacts.
Italy's Cabinet approved a security decree on February 5, 2026, allowing police to detain suspected agitators for up to 12 hours.
Milan police reported at least five detentions, while the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee denied any operational involvement by ICE agents.
History
4 sources