Protests during the Olympics in Milan escalated into clashes with the police
On Saturday, 7 February, mass protests took place in Milan, the host city of the 2026 Winter Olympics, which escalated into clashes with the police. The protests took place near the Olympic Village after marches through the central areas of the city, DW reports.
According to Italian law enforcement, six people were detained during the riots. The police used tear gas, batons and water cannons. The riots began after some of the participants threw smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails at the security forces. The police estimated the number of protesters at about 3,000, while alternative estimates put the number at up to 10,000.
Protests in Olympic cities have been going on for several days. One of the reasons for the discontent was the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the US delegation. Protesters say they are showing solidarity with American protests against ICE actions in the United States, particularly in light of high-profile incidents during deportation operations.
At the same time, the Italian authorities have repeatedly emphasised that ICE officers do not perform any police functions on Italian territory and are involved exclusively in the protection of US officials, including US Vice President Jay D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In addition, protesters are against the high cost of housing and the environmental impact of preparations for the Olympics. Activists claim that infrastructure projects have damaged the environment in mountainous areas and have been an inefficient use of public funds.
During Saturday's protest, about 50 participants carried stylised cardboard trees symbolising larch trees, which they say were cut down to build a new bobsleigh track in Cortina d'Ampezzo. One of the banners said that century-old trees had been destroyed for the sake of a 90-second competition on a track costing €124 million.
