France’s high-speed train network has been hit by a series of coordinated arson attacks just hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.
The attacks have caused major disruption to some of the country’s busiest rail lines.
The state-owned railway operator, SNCF, reported that arsonists targeted installations along major routes connecting Paris with cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west, and Strasbourg in the east.
“Last night, the SNCF was victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations,” the SNCF said in a statement.
The company urged all travelers to postpone their journeys, adding that while the repairs are underway, the traffic would remain severely disrupted until at least the end of the weekend. For now, trains are being sent back to their points of departure.
However, France’s Transport Minister, Patrice Vergriete, described the acts as being criminal in nature.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra added: “It’s completely appalling. To target the games is to target France.”
France is on high alert ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, with Paris rolling out an unprecedented peacetime security operation to secure the event, with more than 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents deployed.
Paris 2024 said following the attacks that it was working closely with the SNCF to assess the situation, while the city’s police chief said he was beefing up security at the capital’s main stations.
The state-owned railway operator, SNCF, reported that arsonists targeted installations along major routes connecting Paris with cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west, and Strasbourg in the east.
“Last night, the SNCF was victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations,” the SNCF said in a statement.
The company urged all travelers to postpone their journeys, adding that while the repairs are underway, the traffic would remain severely disrupted until at least the end of the weekend. For now, trains are being sent back to their points of departure.
So far, no group or individual has claimed responsibility, and there is no indication that the fires were politically motivated.🚨🇫🇷 Chaos in France
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) July 26, 2024
The French High Speed Rail network has been ‘severely vandalised’ leaving travellers stranded at stations around the Country.
The same day as the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris. pic.twitter.com/uiIuCRJkh9
However, France’s Transport Minister, Patrice Vergriete, described the acts as being criminal in nature.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra added: “It’s completely appalling. To target the games is to target France.”
France is on high alert ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, with Paris rolling out an unprecedented peacetime security operation to secure the event, with more than 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents deployed.
Paris 2024 said following the attacks that it was working closely with the SNCF to assess the situation, while the city’s police chief said he was beefing up security at the capital’s main stations.
Source: Reuters, Polish Radio 24, TVP World
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