France’s high-speed rail network ‘attacked’ before Paris Olympics opening

Arson and other “malicious acts” have hit France’s high-speed train network, disrupting the transport system, the country’s national rail operator said on Friday, hours ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

According to DW, French railway operator SNCF has reported incidents of sabotage on several of its high-speed train routes.

The TGV high-speed rail network serving the country’s west, north and east was disrupted, with service halted on some sections, causing delays, according to local media.

“Coordinated malicious acts targeted several TGV lines last night and will severely disrupt traffic this weekend. I strongly condemn these criminal actions, which will affect the holiday travel of many French people. Many thanks to the #SNCF teams on the bridge for restoring traffic conditions as quickly as possible,” the country’s Transport Minister, Patrice Vergitte, said on X.

The country’s Sports Minister, Emilie Oudéa-Castéra, condemned the attacks and was quoted as saying by French news broadcast television and radio network BFM TV, “Playing against sports is playing against France, against your team, against your country.”

he/she added that the impact on travellers, Olympic athletes and the general public is currently being assessed, while also assuring “the smooth transport of all delegations to the competition venues”.

Rail operator SNCF said rail traffic was disrupted across the Atlantic, north and east regions. The operator said in a statement that the situation “will last at least through the weekend while repair works continue.”