Series of fires hit French high-speed rail lines just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
The railway company SNCF speaks of “mass attack with the aim of paralyzing the network”, while the French transport minister condemns “coordinated malicious acts”.
About 800,000 passengers are affected with disruptions expected over the weekend, says the railway company, which does not expect the problem to be resolved today.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal denounced X “acts of sabotage” carried out “in a pre-planned and coordinated manner”, with “massive and serious consequences” on the railway network
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– Le Parisien (@le_Parisien) July 26, 2024
Eurostar is warning customers of longer journey times and some cancellations.
This is understandably a huge problem for France, which in any case relies on its rail network for travel in and out of the country, especially just before the start of the main sporting event.
At present, no one has claimed responsibility for these acts and no suspect has yet been clearly identified or detained. All intelligence agencies are mobilized to clarify these clearly coordinated acts of “sabotage.”
This morning, acts of sabotage were carried out, prepared and coordinated on SNCF facilities.
The consequences for the railway network are enormous and serious.
Je dis toute ma recognition no pompiers qui intervenus sur les sites touchés et…
-Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) July 26, 2024
“This morning, acts of sabotage were carried out on SNCF facilities in a planned and coordinated manner. The implications for the rail network are huge and serious”, stressed the (interim) Prime Minister Gabriel Atal.
“I would like to express my gratitude to our firefighters who responded to the affected areas and to the SNCF staff who will carry out the necessary work to restore the network. I think of all the French people, of all the families who were preparing to go on holiday. I share their anger and I applaud their patience, understanding and political sensitivity.
Our intelligence and law enforcement agencies are mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators of these crimes.”
However, the -conservative- Le Figaro cites security authorities, who argue that the method is similar to the actions of far left.
Meanwhile, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg has temporarily grounded its aircraft for security reasons”.
Sources: Le Figaro, BBC