A mass attack on France’s high-speed rail network on Friday has disrupted travel in the country just hours ahead of the 2024 Partis Olympics.
A coordinated series of sabotage attacks have thrown the country’s transportation system into chaos, impacting an estimated 800,000 passengers and casting a shadow over what was meant to be a celebration of international unity and athletic excellence.
The French national rail operator, SNCF, reported that “arson attacks were started to damage our facilities,” targeting strategic junctions on the Atlantic, northern, and eastern lines.
The attacks, described by Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete as an “outrageous criminal act,” have led to widespread cancellations and delays that are expected to persist throughout the weekend.
Despite the disruption, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo insisted that the sabotage would have “no impact on the ceremony” opening the Olympics.
The incident has raised security concerns and questions about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure during high-profile international events in a country.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said French intelligence services have been mobilized to track down the perpetrators, characterizing the vandalism as “acts of sabotage” that were “prepared and coordinated.”
The timing of the attacks, coinciding with the arrival of world leaders and thousands of athletes and spectators for the Olympic Games, has put French security forces on high alert. Additional security personnel have been deployed to Paris train stations, and officials are working to prevent any further disruptions to the Games.
International travel has also been affected, with Eurostar canceling a quarter of its services and Deutsche Bahn warning of disruptions to its long-distance rail network to France. Passengers from across Europe have found themselves stranded or facing significant delays as they attempt to reach Paris for the Olympics.
The coming days will be crucial in determining whether this attack was an isolated incident or part of a larger threat to the security of the Paris Olympics.