Man Arrested After Hammer Attack, Fire at Milan Malpensa Airport

A man armed with a hammer caused chaos at Milan's Malpensa Airport Terminal 1 by smashing check-in desk screens and setting fire to a rubbish bin, prompting the evacuation of part of the terminal. The suspect, a Malian resident in Italy with no criminal record, also attempted to strike security personnel before being restrained by airport staff and passengers, one of whom reportedly used a fire extinguisher to subdue him. Thick black smoke filled the terminal, forcing a partial closure and leading to possible flight delays and cancellations, though airport operations largely continued. Emergency services responded promptly to extinguish the fire, and no serious injuries were reported, though some employees required medical checks. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, with authorities actively investigating the incident. Airport staff reported that air quality inside the terminal remained poor hours after the fire was extinguished.