FRANCE’S high-speed train network was hit by a series of coordinated arson attacks just hours before the Olympic opening ceremony in Paris. The attacks caused significant travel disruptions across the country and exposed potential security vulnerabilities on the day of a major international event.
According to Reuters, saboteurs targeted signal boxes on train lines connecting Paris with cities like Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. The state-owned railway operator SNCF reported that vandals had damaged critical infrastructure, while an attempt to sabotage the Paris-Marseille line was thwarted.
The news agency notes that while no group has claimed responsibility, security sources suggest initial suspicions point towards leftist militants or environmental activists, though there is currently no concrete evidence.
Reuters reports that Prime Minister Gabriel Attal acknowledged the coordinated nature of the attacks, stating they showed “a certain knowledge of the network to know where to strike.” The sabotage occurred as France deployed a massive security operation for the Olympics, with tens of thousands of police and soldiers safeguarding the capital.
The article highlights that the attacks left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded, with SNCF urging people to postpone their journeys. Eurostar services between London and Paris were forced onto slower lines, and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn warned of disruptions to long-distance services.
Reuters quotes SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou as saying about 800,000 customers were impacted ahead of a busy holiday weekend. The news agency also reports that Paris region president Valerie Pecresse described the incident as “an effort to destabilise France.”
While Paris is under tight security for the opening ceremony, with over 300,000 spectators expected along the River Seine, these attacks have occurred in areas with lighter security measures in place.
