Demonstrators conflict with police close to Winter Olympics venue in Milan

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A chaotic scene unfolded in Milan Saturday as police deployed water cannons and tear gasoline in opposition to demonstrators simply steps away from an Olympic ice hockey rink.

A gaggle often called the Unsustainable Olympics Committee organized demonstrations highlighting considerations associated to the environmental, financial and social influence of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Demonstrators additionally protested the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers in Italy, The Related Press reported.

The conflict with police occurred close to Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Area, a newly constructed venue that has confronted scrutiny over building delays and rink-size considerations.

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Fireworks explode throughout clashes between law enforcement officials and demonstrators making an attempt to dam a street resulting in the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Area on the day of a protest in opposition to the environmental, financial and social influence of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 7, 2026. (Reuters/Claudia Greco )

World Guardian, a world safety agency, issued a journey alert Saturday, in line with AP.

"Anticipate heightened safety and related disruptions within the affected space over the following a number of hours," the safety alert stated. "Plot route bypasses. Keep away from all protests."

The alert additionally stated not less than 5 people had been taken into custody.

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A gaggle of masked protesters was seen setting off smoke bombs and firecrackers on a bridge overlooking a building web site roughly half a mile from the Olympic Village. An estimated 1,500 athletes are being housed on the Olympic Village for this yr's Video games.

Fireworks explode close to a police water cannon used in opposition to demonstrators who had been making an attempt to dam a street resulting in the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Area on the day of a protest in opposition to the environmental, financial and social influence of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 7, 2026. (Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapane )

Police vans behind a short lived steel fence secured the street to the athletes’ village, however the protesters veered away, persevering with their obvious route towards the Santagiulia venue. A heavy police presence guarded the complete route.

Police autos converge as fireworks go off Feb. 7, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Maja Hitij/Getty Photos)

There was no indication that the protest and ensuing street closure interfered with athletes’ transfers to their occasions, all on the outskirts of Milan.

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At a bigger, peaceable demonstration, which police stated numbered about 10,000, individuals carried cardboard cutouts representing bushes felled to construct the brand new bobsled run in Cortina. A gaggle of dancers carried out to the beat of drums. Music blasted from a truck main the march, together with a profanity-laced anti-ICE anthem.

"Let’s take again the cities and free the mountains," a banner by the Unsustainable Olympic Committee stated. One other group referred to as the Affiliation of Proletariat Excursionists organized the cutout bushes.