Arson Attacks Hit French Rail Network Hours Before Olympics Opening Ceremony
France's TGV high-speed train network has been hit by a series of pre-dawn sabotage attacks, causing major travel disruptions just hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
Coordinated attacks hit signal boxes
Vandals targeted signal boxes on lines connecting Paris with major cities like Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. An attack on the Paris-Marseille line was foiled. The state-owned railway operator SNCF said the attacks involved fires set in conduits carrying crucial fibre-optic cables, causing significant damage.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called the incidents "prepared and coordinated acts of sabotage" and emphasised the importance of caution as investigations begin. "Our intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilised to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts," he wrote on X.
Attack come hours before opening ceremony
The attacks come amid a security operation in France, with tens of thousands of police, soldiers, and private security agents deployed to safeguard the Olympics. Despite these measures, the sabotage has heightened security concerns ahead of the grand opening ceremony in Paris, which will feature a parade of athletes on the River Seine and draw over 300,000 spectators.
Travellers urged to postpone journeys with delays expected throughout the weekend
SNCF's chief executive, Jean-Pierre Farandou, said, "There's a huge number of bundled cables. We have to repair them one by one, it's a manual operation," requiring hundreds of workers. The disruption has left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded at stations, with significant delays expected throughout the weekend.
In response to the attacks, SNCF has urged travellers to postpone their journeys and avoid train stations. Eurostar has also asked passengers to cancel their trips if possible, as one in four Eurostar trains will be cancelled over the weekend. Services between France and Germany are similarly affected.
French officials condemn attacks
French officials have condemned the attacks. Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera stated, "It's completely appalling. To target the Games is to target France." Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete also condemned the incidents, saying SNCF is working to restore services.
The attacks have not only disrupted travel plans but also sparked fears about the safety of the Olympics. "We strike as a matter of last resort. We have given this process absolutely as much time as we responsibly can," said SNCF passenger services chief Christophe Fanichet.
Despite the disruptions, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach expressed confidence in French authorities. "I don't have concerns," he said. "We have full confidence in the French authorities."
The TGV sabotage underscores the challenges faced by security forces as they strive to ensure a safe and successful Olympics.
