France's High-Speed Rail Network Sabotaged Ahead of Paris Olympics

A series of arson and cable-cutting incidents has severely disrupted France's high-speed rail network, threatening to affect 800,000 travelers and cast a shadow over the upcoming Paris Olympics.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics is just hours away, but the country's transportation system has been thrown into chaos by a series of coordinated attacks on its high-speed rail network.

Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF), the state-run rail line, announced on Friday morning that the attacks had "paralyzed" the network, resulting in a large number of train diversions and cancellations.

France's High-Speed Rail Network Sabotaged Ahead of Paris Olympics

According to SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou, the attacks included arson and intentional damage to cables, targeting three major railway lines—the Atlantic, North, and East—in what he called "an attack on France."

The damage to safety cables has forced SNCF to halt services to and from Paris, potentially affecting up to 800,000 travelers. SNCF has urged affected passengers to postpone their trips and avoid going to stations.

France's High-Speed Rail Network Sabotaged Ahead of Paris Olympics

"Therefore we have to pull them back together one by one, reconnect all these cables and test them. It’s a question of security," Farandou said, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of passengers once services resume.

Farandou described the attacks as "premeditated, calculated, and coordinated," indicating a deliberate attempt to sabotage the transportation system during a period of heightened international attention.

France's High-Speed Rail Network Sabotaged Ahead of Paris Olympics

The attacks come as Paris welcomes spectators from around the world for the Olympics, marking the first time the city has hosted the Games in nearly a century. The opening ceremony is set to take place on the Seine River at 1:30 p.m. ET.

French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera has assured Olympic organizers that they will "ensure the proper transport of all delegations to the competition sites."

The attacks have raised concerns about security during the Olympics, which will draw large crowds and increased scrutiny. There have been no reports of injuries so far, but the disruption to the rail network could potentially impact the movement of athletes, spectators, and officials.

SNCF has not yet identified those responsible for the attacks, and an investigation is ongoing. The French government has condemned the sabotage as an act of malice and has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.