‘Coordinated sabotage’: Arson, ‘other malicious acts’ hit rail lines before Paris Olympics starts
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Train attack Passengers walk on train platform at the Bordeaux-Saint-Jean train station in Bordeaux, western France on July 26, 2024, as France's high-speed rail network was hit by an attack disrupting the transport system, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. According to the French railway company SNCF, a massive attack on a large scale hit the high speed train network (TGV) on July 26, 2024, and many routes will have to be cancelled. The SNCF urged passengers to postpone their trips and stay away from train stations. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images) (CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The Paris Olympics have had a rocky start after France’s high-speed train lines were the target of “malicious acts” including arson.
Cables were set on fire and taken apart, officials said, but they do not know who carried out the attacks. Sources told CNN that “these methods have been used by the far-left in the past,” but “there is no evidence to tie today’s actions to them.”
Activists have been protesting the Olympic games recently citing the environmental and social impact of the events, as well as including athletes from Israel amid the Gaza war, CNBC reported.
The AP reported that there was no direct link between the attacks and the games.
Railway company SNCF said that “a large number of trains were diverted or canceled.”
⚠️ Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting several high speed lines, several high speed trains are being diverted or cancelled. 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
One of the attacks was “foiled” when alleged actors were thwarted by SNCF agents.
The attacks came hours before the opening ceremony for the Olympic games in the heart of Paris. It also affected Eurostar services connecting France with the U.K., Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, CNBC reported. Passengers are being diverted to local lines to get to Paris, which are slower and are adding about an hour and a half to the travel plans.
About 800,000 passengers will be affected by the travel disruptions throughout the weekend.
“We are so sorry to not be able to circulate the trains expected by the French. Today the major departure lines are attacked, an attack on the French,” SNCF President Jean-Pierre Farrandou said, according to NBC News.
The train system was a key in getting spectators to Olympic events including the opening ceremony, which will include a flotilla of boats gliding down the River Seine through Paris. More than 320,000 people were expected to attend the opening event.
The opening ceremony will go on as planned, while organizers said they have “no concerns from their side in light of the overnight events on the train network,” CNN reported.
An investigation is ongoing.
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Paris Olympics Security Trains Train tracks are pictured at the Gare Montparnasse in Paris, France, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (Martin Meissner/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Police patrol the Gare de L'Est ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic was severely disrupted. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (Luca Bruno/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Policemen patrol the Gare de L'Est ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic was severely disrupted. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (Luca Bruno/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers wait outside the Gare de Montparnasse train station, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday following what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage AP Photo/Yasin Dar) (Yasin Dar/AP)
Britain France Security Trains Passengers queue at the Eurostar terminal at St. Pancras station in central London, Friday July 26, 2024. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as “criminal actions” and sabotage. (James Manning/PA via AP) (James Manning/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers wait inside the Gare du Nord train station as police officers patrol at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers wait inside the Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains A traveler sits inside the Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers wait at the Eurostar platform inside the Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers wait as police officers patrol inside the Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Police officers patrol inside the Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains A traveler waits inside the Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers wait inside the Gare du Nord train station at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker) (Mark Baker/AP)
Paris Olympics A tourist train passes as people visit the steps below Sacre Coeur of Montmartre Basilica, ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 22, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers wait outside the Gare de Montparnasse train station, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday following what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage AP Photo/Yasin Dar) (Yasin Dar/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers check trains on an electronic board at the Gare de Montparnasse, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday following what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage. (AP Photo/Yasin Dar) (Yasin Dar/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers sit at the Gare de Montparnasse, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday following what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage AP Photo/Yasin Dar) (Yasin Dar/AP)
Paris Olympics Security Trains Travelers sit on stairs at the Gare de Montparnasse, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday following what officials described as "criminal actions" and sabotage AP Photo/Yasin Dar) (Yasin Dar/AP)