France’s high-speed rail network has been hit by “malicious acts” including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system, rail operator SNCF said on Friday. hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.
A source close to the investigation told Agence France-Presse that the attacks were coordinated acts of “sabotage.”
“This is a large-scale massive attack aimed at paralyzing the TGV network,” SNCF told AFP, specifying that many lines will have to be closed.
Yasin Dar / AP
“SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts during the night,” said the national rail operator, specifying that the attacks affected its Atlantic, North and East lines.
“Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities,” he said, adding that traffic on the affected lines was “seriously disrupted” and that the situation would last all weekend while repairs were carried out.
Trains have been diverted to other routes “but we will have to cancel a large number of them,” the statement said.
The south-eastern line was not affected because “a malicious act was foiled,” the operator continued.
The SNCF has urged travellers to postpone their journeys and avoid stations.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete described the “massive attack” on the TGV network as a “scandalous criminal act.”
“The consequences will be very serious” for rail traffic throughout the weekend, with connections to the north, east and northwest of France cut in half, Vergriete said. SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou said 800,000 passengers were affected.
According to the Associated Press, Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera said authorities were working to “assess the impact on travelers, athletes and ensure the transport of all delegations to the (Olympic) competition sites.”
“Playing against the Games is playing against France, against your own camp, against your country,” she declared on the BFM television channel, without identifying the person behind this act of vandalism.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, speaking on France Info radio, said he would send police reinforcements to stations that were overcrowded because of the incidents.
The attacks came as Paris was under tight security ahead of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, which was expected to be attended by 300,000 spectators and a VIP audience.
A parade will take place on Friday evening and will see up to 7,500 competitors navigate a four-mile stretch of the Seine in a flotilla of 85 boats.
It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, a decision fraught with danger at a time when France is on high alert for terrorist attacks.
At Paris’ Montparnasse train station, dozens of travelers waited for further information about their journey after delays ranging from 30 minutes to almost two hours were announced.
“Normal traffic should resume on Monday, July 29,” reads one of the signs in the departure hall.
“We arrived around 7am but were told we might not be able to leave until Monday,” said Jocelyn, a 27-year-old student who had planned to travel to Brittany and declined to give her full name.
“We expected it to be a bit chaotic in Paris with the opening ceremony scheduled for tonight, but we didn’t think it could be this bad,” she said.
