Sabotage disrupts France’s high-speed train network ahead of Paris Olympics

Saboteurs have launched a series of coordinated attacks on France’s high-speed train network, TGV, creating significant disruptions along the country’s most vital rail corridors just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024.

Despite extensive security measures, which included the deployment of tens of thousands of military and police personnel aimed at safeguarding the global sports event, the attackers managed to inflict substantial damage. The state-owned operator, SNCF, reported that arsonists targeted signal boxes on lines connecting Paris with major cities including Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. An additional attempt to sabotage the Paris-Marseille line was thwarted.

The attacks left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded, with SNCF advising all travelers to delay their plans. The damage has necessitated extensive repairs, with the operator estimating severe disruptions to persist through the weekend. Affected trains have been directed back to their points of origin.

In a post on X, SNCF said “a large number of trains were diverted or canceled,” and asked “all travelers who can to postpone their trip and not go to the station.”

As of now, there has been no claim of responsibility, nor any clear indication of the motives behind these disruptions. “Everything leads us to believe that these were criminal acts,” stated Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete during a press briefing at Gare du Nord.

The SNCF detailed that the attacks specifically targeted signaling installations along the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern TGV lines, utilizing explosive devices to set fires. Jean-Pierre Farandou, SNCF chief, noted the impact on approximately 800,000 customers, highlighting the timing as particularly problematic given the ongoing summer holiday travel peak.

This breach of rail security heightens the atmosphere of unease as the city prepares for the Olympics’ opening ceremony. Paris 2024 organizers have expressed their commitment to closely collaborating with SNCF to evaluate and manage the fallout from the incidents.

The attacks could complicate travel plans for numerous Olympic teams and spectators, including the U.S. basketball team, which had scheduled train travel to Lille on Saturday. In response to the crisis, the Paris police chief has announced an increase in security measures at major train stations, which are already crowded with passengers delayed by the disruptions and those embarking on summer vacations.