Hours before the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris, the French railway company SNCF reported on Friday that the high-speed TGV network had been targeted by a series of “malicious acts” designed to disrupt the system.
SNCF advised all travelers to delay their trips. Repairs were in progress, but disruptions were expected to continue until at least the end of the weekend. Trains were being sent back to their starting points.
“Last night, SNCF suffered several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our facilities,” SNCF said in a statement.
France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that “intelligence services and law enforcement agencies” have been “mobilized” following the arson attacks on the railway lines. He stated that officers had been instructed to “find and punish the people responsible for these criminal acts.” He described the impact on the rail network as “massive and serious.”
He also mentioned that the “acts of sabotage” were carried out in a “planned and coordinated way.”
Vandals Target France’s High-Speed Rail Network: Top Updates
- SNCF reports that train lines in western, northern, and eastern France were disrupted. Trains to Belgium and London were also affected.
- Government officials condemned the attacks just hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. There’s no clear connection to the Games.
- National Police are investigating the situation. French media reported a large fire on a busy train route.
- Many French families are starting their summer vacations on Friday. The attacks on the rail network are adding to the unease before the Olympics opening in Paris.
- No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet, and it’s unclear if they were politically motivated.
- France is boosting security for the Olympics with more than 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents. There will be snipers on rooftops and drones monitoring from above.
- Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete called the attacks criminal. The Paris Police chief is increasing security at major stations.
- Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera condemned the vandalism.
- At the Gare de L’Est, traveler Corinne Lecocq said her train to Strasbourg was canceled. “We’ll take the slower train,” she said. “I’m on holiday, so it’s OK, even if it’s annoying to be late.”
