France’s High-Speed Rail Network Disrupted by Sabotage Ahead of Paris Olympics
France’s high-speed rail system has been severely disrupted by “malicious acts,” including arson attacks, train operator SNCF reported on Friday, just hours before the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony.
According to AFP, these attacks are being treated as coordinated acts of sabotage aimed at paralyzing the TGV network. SNCF stated that the attacks have led to significant cancellations and delays across its Atlantic, northern, and eastern lines.
“SNCF has been targeted by several simultaneous malicious acts overnight,” the operator said. “Arson attacks were used to damage our facilities, causing heavy disruption to traffic that will continue through the weekend while repairs are underway.”
Trains are being rerouted, but many will be canceled due to the extensive damage. Fortunately, the southeastern line was not affected as a planned malicious act was thwarted.
SNCF has advised passengers to delay their travel and avoid train stations if possible.
Olympics Under Heavy Security
The attacks coincided with heightened security in Paris ahead of the Olympics, with around 300,000 spectators and numerous VIPs expected for the opening ceremony. The parade will feature up to 7,500 competitors navigating a six-kilometer stretch of the Seine River on 85 boats. This marks the first time a Summer Olympics has kicked off outside the main athletics stadium, a decision made amid high alert for potential terror attacks.
At Paris’s Montparnasse train station, passengers faced delays ranging from 30 minutes to nearly two hours. “Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29,” read one sign in the departure hall.
Jocelyn, a 27-year-old student, expressed frustration over the disruption. “We arrived around 7:00 am but were told we might not be able to leave before Monday,” she said, noting the unexpected scale of the chaos amidst the Olympic celebrations.
