France’s Rail Network Targeted by “Malicious Acts” Just Hours Ahead of Olympics Kick-Off

Paris:

France’s high-speed rail network experienced significant disruptions due to “malicious acts,” including arson attacks, just hours before the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, according to train operator SNCF on Friday.

A source involved in the investigation informed AFP that these were coordinated acts of “sabotage.”

“This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyze the TGV network,” SNCF told AFP, noting that many routes would be canceled.

“SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight,” the national train operator added, specifying that the attacks impacted its Atlantic, northern, and eastern lines.

“Arson attacks were initiated to damage our facilities,” SNCF stated, adding that traffic on the affected lines was “heavily disrupted” and that the situation would persist through the weekend as repairs were undertaken.

Trains were being rerouted to alternative tracks, “but we will have to cancel a large number of them,” the statement continued.

The southeastern line remained unaffected as “a malicious act was foiled.”

SNCF urged passengers to postpone their trips and avoid train stations.

Olympics Under Heavy Security

The attacks occurred as Paris was under heavy security in preparation for the Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony, which is expected to draw 300,000 spectators and numerous VIPs.

The Friday evening parade will feature up to 7,500 competitors traveling along a six-kilometer (four-mile) stretch of the river Seine on a fleet of 85 boats.

This marks the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, a decision considered risky given France’s heightened alert for terror attacks.

At Paris’s Montparnasse train station, dozens of passengers awaited more information about their trips, facing delays ranging from 30 minutes to almost two hours.

“Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29,” read one of the signs in the departure hall.

“We arrived around 7:00 am but were told we might not be able to leave before Monday,” said Jocelyn, a 27-year-old student who had planned to travel to Bretagne and declined to provide her full name.

“We expected some chaos in Paris with the opening ceremony scheduled for this evening, but we didn’t think it would be this severe,” she added.