Italian protestors denounce Winter Olympics' environmental impact, US ICE agents

Italian police shot tear gas and water cannon at dozens of protestors who threw firecrackers near the Olympic Village on Saturday.

A large number of demonstrators, including families with small children and students, railed against the Games' environmental impact and directed at the presence of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Italy.

They were marching peacefully near a Winter Olympics venue before some tried to access a highway to reach the Santagiulia Olympic ice hockey rink.

Police held off the violent demonstrators after the skirmish.

The incident coincided with US Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Milan as head of the US delegation.

Earlier, a group of masked protesters reportedly set off smoke bombs on a bridge overlooking a construction site near the Olympic Village, while others threw stones and fireworks at police.