Arson attacks 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 before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
French railway operator SNCF reported acts of vandalism on several of its high-speed train routes, DW said. The TGV high-speed rail network was disrupted on lines to the country’s west, north and east, with service being cut off on some sections, causing delays, local media reported.
⚠️ Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting several high speed lines, several high speed trains are being diverted or cancelled.
— SNCF Voyageurs (@SNCFVoyageurs) July 26, 2024
Our teams are fully mobilised in stations, in the call centers, and onboard to ensure that all passengers are informed and can reach… https://t.co/IRXQK6lCtu
“Coordinated malicious acts targeted several TGV lines last night and will seriously disrupt traffic until this weekend. I strongly condemn these criminal actions which will compromise the vacation departures of many French people. A big thank you to the #SNCF teams, on the bridge to restore traffic conditions as quickly as possible.,” the country’s Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said on X.
Des actes de malveillance coordonnés ont visé cette nuit plusieurs lignes TGV et perturberont fortement le trafic jusqu’à ce week-end. Je condamne fermement ces agissements criminels qui vont compromettre les départs en vacances de nombreux Français. Un grand merci aux équipes de…
— Patrice Vergriete (@P_Vergriete) July 26, 2024
The country’s Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera condemned the attacks and was cited by the BFM TV, a French news broadcast television and radio network, as saying “To play against the Games is to play against France, against your side, against your country.”
She said that the impact for travellers, Olympic athletes, and the general public was currently being assessed while assuring “smooth transportation of all delegations to the competition sites.”
The rail operator SNCF said that train traffic on the Atlantic, North and East area had been disrupted. This situation should nevertheless “last at least the whole weekend, while the repairs are carried out” the operator said in a statement.
The attacks occurred as Paris was under high security ahead of the Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony, which was scheduled to attract 300,000 spectators and a VIP audience. On Friday evening, up to 7,500 contestants will go along a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of the Seine during a parade aboard an 85-boat flotilla.
Latest reports say that over 800,000 people have been affected by the widespread attacks. President Emmanuel Macron has said that the attacks were carried out in a prepared and coordinated manner.
Notably, this is the first Summer Olympics to take place outside of the main athletics stadium, which reports say is a risky decision at a time when France is on high alert for terrorist attacks. Reports say that the Normal traffic is expected to resume on 29th July.
(With inputs from ANI)
