Italy's Transport Ministry on Saturday said that rail infrastructure in northern Italy had been the target of sabotage, which ultimately impacted journeys to day one of Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

Police said they are investigating three incidents of damage to rail infrastructure around Bologna and have not ruled out the possibility that it may be linked to the opening of the Winter Olympics, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

Police said a structure housing a track switch was set on fire at dawn near the coastal city of Pesaro.

Hours later, electrical cables used to detect train speeds were found to have been cut in ​Bologna, while a makeshift explosive device was found along a nearby track.

'Thousands' of travelers impacted

"The serious incidents of sabotage that occurred this morning near Bologna train station and in Pesaro, causing significant disruption to thousands of travelers, are worrying," Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said in a statement.

The Transport Ministry noted that France's high-speed rail network had also been sabotaged ahead of the Olympic games held in July 2024.

"There are similarities in action and timing" to the French incident, AFP news agency quoted Salvini's spokesperson as saying.

"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," the ministry said.

Bologna is a major transport hub for Italy's east-to-west rail service, and is also a key link for the south to northern cities such as Milan and Venice.

Milan is co-hosting the Winter Games alongside Cortina, reachable by train from Venice.

Edited by: Zac Crellin