- Title: Protesters shoot flares, fireworks at police in Olympic host city Milan
- Date: 7th February 2026
- Summary: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 7, 2026) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) PROTESTERS FIRING FIREWORKS, PROTESTING OVER ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE WINTER GAMES IN MILAN/ PROTESTER WAVING ARMS AT POLICE, SAYING (Italian) “Stop” PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER READING (English): "KNOW YOUR ENEMY"/FIRECRACKERS GOING OFF VARIOUS OF FIRECRACKERS AND SMOKE BOMBS EXPLODING/CAMERA OPERA
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Italy Winter Games clashes police protest
- Location: MILAN, ITALY
- City: MILAN, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Civil Unrest,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001359307022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A group of around 100 protesters shot flares, firecrackers and smoke bombs at police after breaking away from the main body of a demonstration in the Olympic host city of Milan on Saturday (February 7).
Police in riot gear and shields responded with water cannon to try to disperse the group, some of whom wore hoods and scarves to cover their faces. Order was restored after a few minutes.
More than 5,000 people had taken to the streets of Milan in a protest over housing costs and environmental concerns on the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
The march, organised by grassroots unions, housing-rights groups and social centre community activists, is seeking to highlight what activists call an increasingly unsustainable city model marked by soaring rents and deepening inequality.
Security in Italy's financial capital had been tightened for the Games.
The demonstration was seen as a flashpoint after a rally last weekend by the hard-left in the city of Turin turned violent, with more than 100 police officers injured and nearly 30 protesters arrested, according to an interior ministry tally.
(Production: Leonardo Benassatto, Lisa Giles-Keddie) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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