Just hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, French rail company SNCF reported that its high-speed network has been targeted by “malicious acts” aimed at disrupting the system. Several TGV lines to the west, north, and east of Paris have been affected, leading to long queues at Gare Montparnasse, the station serving western destinations.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete condemned these “criminal acts,” which he said would disrupt people’s holiday plans. SNCF has canceled a number of trains and warned that the situation could continue through the weekend as repairs are carried out. Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra called the attacks “downright appalling” and noted that the full impact on the public and Olympic athletes is still being assessed.
The attacks involved setting fires intended to damage SNCF facilities. An investigation source told AFP that these incidents were acts of “sabotage.”
Over 300,000 spectators are anticipated in central Paris on Friday for the Olympics opening ceremony, where thousands of Olympic athletes will parade along the River Seine.
While no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks on the high-speed network, there is significant concern that they represent coordinated acts of vandalism. Some high-speed services have been rerouted to other lines, resulting in disruptions to additional services.