Arson Disrupts French Trains Ahead of Olympics Opening Ceremony

Paris: French trains network faced significant disruptions due to “malicious acts” including arson attacks, reported train operator SNCF on Friday, just hours before the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony. A source close to the investigation confirmed these attacks were coordinated acts of “sabotage.”

“This is a massive attack on a large scale aimed at paralyzing the TGV network,” an SNCF spokesperson stated, adding that numerous routes will be cancelled as a result.

The SNCF reported multiple instances of “malicious acts” occurring simultaneously overnight, affecting the Atlantic, northern, and eastern lines. The company noted that the arson attacks targeted its infrastructure, severely disrupting traffic on these lines, with repairs expected to extend through the weekend.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete condemned the “massive attack” on the TGV network as an “outrageous criminal act,” warning of “very serious consequences” for rail traffic throughout the weekend. The disruptions have halved the connections toward northern, eastern, and northwestern France, affecting approximately 800,000 passengers, according to SNCF chief executive Jean-Pierre Farandou.

While trains are being rerouted to alternative tracks, a significant number of services will still be canceled. The southeastern line was spared as “a malicious act was foiled,” the SNCF said. The company urged passengers to postpone their trips and avoid train stations if possible.

Olympics Under Heavy Security

The attacks occurred as Paris braced for the Olympics’ opening ceremony, set to feature 300,000 spectators and a distinguished audience of VIPs. The event, taking place on Friday evening, will see up to 7,500 competitors parade along a six-kilometer (four-mile) stretch of the River Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats. This marks the first time a Summer Olympics has commenced outside the main athletics stadium, a decision laden with security risks given France’s heightened alert for potential terrorist threats.

At Paris’s Montparnasse train station, dozens of passengers awaited updates on their journeys, with delays ranging from 30 minutes to nearly two hours. Signs in the departure hall indicated that normal traffic was expected to resume on Monday, July 29.

“We arrived around 7:00 am but were informed that we might not be able to leave before Monday,” said 27-year-old student Jocelyn, who was planning to travel to Bretagne and chose not to disclose her full name.

“We anticipated some chaos in Paris due to the opening ceremony, but we didn’t expect it to be this severe,” she remarked.

File photo

Paris: France’s high-speed rail network faced significant disruptions due to “malicious acts,” including arson attacks, reported train operator SNCF on Friday, just hours before the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony. A source close to the investigation confirmed these attacks were coordinated acts of “sabotage.”

“This is a massive attack on a large scale aimed at paralyzing the TGV network,” an SNCF spokesperson stated, adding that numerous routes will be canceled as a result.

The SNCF reported multiple instances of “malicious acts” occurring simultaneously overnight, affecting the Atlantic, northern, and eastern lines. The company noted that the arson attacks targeted its infrastructure, severely disrupting traffic on these lines, with repairs expected to extend through the weekend.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete condemned the “massive attack” on the TGV network as an “outrageous criminal act,” warning of “very serious consequences” for rail traffic throughout the weekend. The disruptions have halved the connections toward northern, eastern, and northwestern France, affecting approximately 800,000 passengers, according to SNCF chief executive Jean-Pierre Farandou.

While trains are being rerouted to alternative tracks, a significant number of services will still be canceled. The southeastern line was spared as “a malicious act was foiled,” the SNCF said. The company urged passengers to postpone their trips and avoid train stations if possible.

Olympics Under Heavy Security

The attacks occurred as Paris braced for the Olympics’ opening ceremony, set to feature 300,000 spectators and a distinguished audience of VIPs. The event, taking place on Friday evening, will see up to 7,500 competitors parade along a six-kilometer (four-mile) stretch of the River Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats. This marks the first time a Summer Olympics has commenced outside the main athletics stadium, a decision laden with security risks given France’s heightened alert for potential terrorist threats.

At Paris’s Montparnasse train station, dozens of passengers awaited updates on their journeys, with delays ranging from 30 minutes to nearly two hours. Signs in the departure hall indicated that normal traffic was expected to resume on Monday, July 29.

“We arrived around 7:00 am but were informed that we might not be able to leave before Monday,” said 27-year-old student Jocelyn, who was planning to travel to Bretagne and chose not to disclose her full name.

“We anticipated some chaos in Paris due to the opening ceremony, but we didn’t expect it to be this severe,” she remarked.