2026 Olympics: Qatari police in support of the Italian authorities in Milan

In recent days, images of Qatari police vehicles patrolling the streets of Milan have circulated widely online and on social media. According to local sources, nine vehicles arrived from Doha at Malpensa Airport before separating into different convoys. Their movements caused traffic disruptions and included stops at several of the city’s most iconic locations, such as Piazza Duomo, Piazza Castello, Arco della Pace, and the Meazza Stadium.

Italian media reported that the Qatari contingent also comprises 104 personnel, including bomb disposal experts, canine units, and counterterrorism specialists, who are involved in prevention and surveillance activities in the area.

As stated on the website of the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the presence of the Qatari contingent stems from a cooperation agreement signed last September in Doha between Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani. According to the Ministry, the agreement forms part of a broader project previously implemented during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, aimed at strengthening coordination between the police forces of the two countries during major international events.

It is noteworthy that, during his visit to Doha, Piantedosi reiterated the Italian government’s support following the attack on Qatar, a country he described as “committed to promoting diplomacy and dialogue in the region.”

The attack in question refers to the Israeli raid carried out on 9 September 2025, aimed at eliminating Hamas leadership during a meeting held inside a Qatari government–owned building in the Leqtaifiya neighborhood.

Given that no Qatari athletes are participating in the Winter Olympics, the purpose of such a substantial deployment of Qatari troops remains unclear, beyond the stated role of “escorting” potential Qatari dignitaries. The Ministry of the Interior has referred to support in managing security and public order, but has provided no further details. What powers will the Qatari contingent hold? What are the terms of the agreement signed by Piantedosi and Al-Thani? We attempted to contact the Ministry for clarification, but were unable to speak with anyone.

Will Qatari troops have the authority to make arrests or conduct searches? Hopefully not, as that would constitute a very serious issue. If they do not possess such powers, however, their presence in such large numbers would be difficult to understand.

It is worth recalling that Qatar is a major sponsor and supporter of Hamas in the Middle East. Moreover, Doha has long served as a safe haven for the Muslim Brotherhood, which was recently identified in a French government report as promoting the Islamization of the West. The Islamist movement has been banned by Austria, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, and three of its branches (Egyptian, Jordanian, and Lebanese) have been designated by the United States.

It should also be noted that, during a July 2024 US congressional hearing, ISGAP research scholar on antisemitism Charles Asher Small reported that universities receiving funding from Qatar experienced a 300% increase in antisemitic incidents compared to institutions not funded by Doha.

Returning to the Qatari contingent currently present in Milan, it is noteworthy that in early January 2026 the Qatari consulate in Milan issued a warning advising its citizens that the city was unsafe. Could this be the reason for their presence?