Chaos at Milan Airport: Hammer-Wielding Man Sets Bin Alight, Smashes Property | WATCH

Chaos erupted at Milan’s Malpensa Airport when a 28-year-old Malian national, who lives in Italy and has no prior criminal record, stormed Terminal 1’s departure area around 10:30–11:00 AM local time (8:30–9:00 GMT). Armed with a hammer and flammable liquid, the man set fire to a rubbish bin near check-in desks 12 and 13, causing flames to engulf the area and thick black smoke to fill the terminal. He then smashed digital screens and check-in equipment, targeting airport property but not directly attacking passengers or staff, according to Italian media.

Panicked travelers fled as the blaze spread, with witnesses describing scenes of terror. Sophia Kim, a passenger at desk 13, told The Mirror, “I turned around only to see the check-in counter on the other side was on fire.” Fabiola Gomes, who filmed the incident, reported to the BBC seeing “fire everywhere” and a “boy with a hammer” hitting the counter, adding she was “very scared.” Social media footage verified by BBC Verify captured passengers scattering as the man struck a wall with screens and an advertisement.

An airport employee from SEA, the airport’s management company, noticed the rising smoke and intervened, sustaining minor injuries while attempting to stop the suspect. Several passengers and security personnel, including ICTS staff, joined to restrain the man, with one individual striking him on the head with a fire extinguisher, causing him to collapse. Others pinned him to the ground, shouting for police, and a hammer was thrown aside. Border Police (Polaria) arrested the suspect, who was not carrying a boarding pass or passport and had no apparent intent to travel. He faces charges of aggravated damage and is scheduled for a fast-track court hearing today.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but heavy smoke forced a partial evacuation of Terminal 1, recently renamed Silvio Berlusconi Milan Malpensa Airport. The Lombardy Airports Association reported the situation was quickly controlled but warned of potential flight delays and cancellations due to the closure of parts of the departure hall. Despite the disruption, authorities stated air traffic faced minimal impact, and operations resumed after safety checks. The air inside the terminal was described as “unbreathable” during the incident, with images showing long queues of passengers waiting outside.

The suspect’s motives remain unclear, and police are investigating. The Lombardy Airports Association called the perpetrator a “madman” on X, while La Stampa noted he directed his anger solely at airport property.