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🇮🇹 Italy /Conflict & Security

Worst attack since 2011 devastates Turin-Lyon rail site

From ANSA · () Italian

Translated from Italian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • An attack on a construction site for the Turin-Lyon high-speed rail line in Chiomonte, Italy, caused extensive damage, with officials calling it the worst since 2011.
  • The incident involved fires and explosions, destroying vehicles, offices, and equipment, including environmental monitoring units.
  • Authorities are investigating potential environmental contamination from flammable liquids used in the attack, which could increase the estimated damages beyond the initial one million euro assessment.

The acrid smell of smoke still hung in the air two days after the attack on the Chiomonte construction site for the Turin-Lyon high-speed rail line. Maurizio Bufalini, CEO of Telt, the company managing the project, described the incident as the "worst attack we have suffered in our construction sites since 2011."

The worst attack we have suffered in our construction sites since 2011.

— Maurizio BufaliniDirector General of Telt, describing the damage at the Chiomonte construction site.

Accompanied by production director Piergiuseppe Gilli, Bufalini surveyed the devastation. Burned-out police vehicles, contractor offices, and an hangar containing acetylene tanks that exploded were among the wreckage. "Very little was saved," Gilli noted.

Explosives experts worked on the site until Sunday. Graffiti on the walls included a reference to the "Fakir case," with a slogan reading "Cop burns Fakir is avenged," alongside the anarchist symbol. Black bloc protesters reportedly entered through a rear gate.

Very little was saved.

— Piergiuseppe GilliProduction director at Telt, surveying the destruction.

Environmental concerns are now paramount. "We don't know what they used as flammable liquid; it could be anything," Gilli explained. "So first there will have to be an environmental check, not a minor one." The destruction of all environmental monitoring equipment means potential contamination of groundwater is a serious concern, possibly raising the damages significantly beyond the initial estimate of one million euros.

We don't know what they used as flammable liquid; it could be anything. So first there will have to be an environmental check, not a minor one.

— Piergiuseppe GilliExplaining the environmental concerns following the attack.

Despite the extensive damage and the risk of project delays, Bufalini expressed determination. "We are not going to be intimidated; we are unfortunately used to this kind of thing." He acknowledged that delays could extend timelines by a couple of months. Bufalini also criticized the anti-TAV movement's tactics as "counterproductive, anachronistic, and useless," emphasizing that the project is already 30% complete and irreversible.

The damages are enormous. One million is a very first estimate. Now we have seen that among the things burned, which are therefore lost, there are also all the environmental control units, so the damages could be higher, if environmental problems were to occur.

— Maurizio BufaliniCommenting on the financial and environmental impact of the attack.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ANSA in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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