Meloni condemns Olympic protesters as "enemies of Italy" after Milan clashes

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a sharp rebuke Saturday following clashes between police and protesters in Milan during demonstrations against the Winter Olympics.

Approximately 5,000 people participated in a march organized by the "Unsustainable Olympics Committee," a network of student, anticapitalist, and environmentalist organizations based in Milan. The protest route extended roughly 4 kilometers from the Porta Romana district to Corvetto, though it was not originally planned to pass through Olympic venues.

Near one of the stadiums, a group of demonstrators threw flares, firebombs, and bottles at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber pellets. At least five people were detained by police and Carabinieri, all Italian nationals. Some 2,000 protesters later gathered outside the Brenta police station.

In a social media post, Meloni stated: "Thousands and thousands of Italians are working right now to make the Olympics function. Many do so as volunteers, because they want their nation to be admired and respected. Then there are them: the enemies of Italy and Italians, who protest 'against the Olympics,' broadcasting these images on televisions around the world."

Meloni also referenced railway sabotage, saying: "After others cut railway cables to prevent trains from departing." She expressed solidarity with law enforcement and the city of Milan, describing the protesters as "gangs of delinquents" whose actions would undermine work by those preparing for the Games.

The demonstration addressed multiple grievances, including opposition to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency's presence in Italy, a recently approved security package, and support for Palestine. The march initially proceeded peacefully before tensions escalated around 6 p.m. in the Corvetto area, when masked and helmeted demonstrators broke away with the apparent intention of reaching the eastern ring road.