In the morning of Wednesday, August 20th, passengers at Milan Malpensa’s Terminal 1 were forced to evacuate the building after a 28-year-old man from Mali destroyed television screens with a hammer and set part of a check-in counter on fire by pouring flammable liquid on top of it.
Airport staff and other travellers quickly responded by intervening with a fire extinguisher, before police could detain the suspect. During the rumble, one airport worker sustained minor injuries.
While the small fire was quickly extinguished, smoke filled the terminal building. As a result, several flights faced delays, with some cancellations noted as well.
The Malian will now face charges of aggravated damage. His reasons behind his actions are currently unknown.
The following clip and images appeared on social media:
A 26-year-old Malian asylum seeker was arrested after attacking Milan’s Malpensa Airport with a hammer and setting fires, before being subdued by a passenger with a fire extinguisher. pic.twitter.com/rGBvQGxCkr
— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) August 21, 2025