In Italy, an anti-Olympics protest in Milan descended into violence after a largely peaceful march erupted into clashes between demonstrators and police yesterday.
A group of around 100 protesters threw firecrackers, smoke bombs and bottles at police after breaking away from the main body of a demonstration. Italian police responded with a water cannon to try to disperse the group. Six people were detained during the skirmishes.
Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters marched through Milan to oppose the 2026 Winter Olympics, citing environmental concerns about construction projects and what they described as the economic and social costs of hosting the Games. The demonstration coincided with US Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Milan as head of the American delegation.
The brief confrontation came at the end of a peaceful march by thousands against the environmental impact of the Games and the presence of US agents in Italy.
Police held off the violent demonstrators, who appeared to be trying to reach the Santagiulia Olympic ice hockey rink, after the skirmish. By then, the larger peaceful protest, including families with small children and students, had dispersed.
Earlier, a group of masked protesters had set off smoke bombs and firecrackers on a bridge overlooking a construction site about 800m from the Olympic Village that’s housing around 1500 athletes.
Police vans behind a temporary metal fence secured the road to the athletes’ village, but the protest veered away, continuing on a trajectory toward the Santagiulia venue. A heavy police presence guarded the entire route.