Italy's railway network in the north suffered serious sabotage just as the Winter Olympics launched. Authorities reported three attacks causing severe travel disruptions. A fire between Bologna and Venice delayed trains by up to two and a half hours. Near Bologna, police found cut electric cables and a rudimentary explosive device beside the tracks. Another fire hit a track switch close to Pesaro on the Adriatic coast. The Ministry of Transport called these acts "serious sabotage," comparing them to vandalism during the Paris Olympics in 2024. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said, "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." He also noted, "There are similarities in action and timing to the French incident." Bologna station, a key rail hub linking northern and southern Italy as well as east to west, temporarily closed but partially reopened by Saturday afternoon. Police are investigating, and no group has claimed responsibility. The Games' opening ceremony took place Friday night across Milan, Cortina, and two additional sites. Both Milan and Cortina are accessible by train from Venice, though events spread over the Alps and Dolomite Mountains cover wide distances in northern Italy.