“The involvement of a foreign country in acts of sabotage is not excluded,” said the French Interior Minister, referring to what was committed against the high-speed rail network (TGV) that caused problems for travelers on the day of its inauguration yesterday. Olympic Games.
The attacks in the early hours of this Friday they destroyed the infrastructure along the railway lines connecting Paris with cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west and Strasbourg in the east.
Another attack on the Paris-Marseille line has been foiled, French railway company SNCF said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
“Who is responsible? Whether it comes from within the country or was mandated from abroad, it is too early to say. We have identified a number of elements that lead us to the conclusion that we will find the culprit soon,” said Mr. Gerald Darmanen on the France 2 network.
On Friday, two security sources said the saboteurs’ modus operandi had initially drawn suspicion from far-left organizations or environmental activists, but that there was no proof yet.
Traffic on the TGV network will be restored on Monday, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriet and SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Faradou told reporters yesterday.
The SNCF reiterated that the transport plans for the competing teams to the Olympics are guaranteed.
Yesterday, 100,000 people were unable to travel by train and another 150,000 suffered delays in their journeys, but ended up reaching their destination.
Israel blames Iran
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz lashed out at Iran over sabotage that took place hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on the French railway network, saying the sabotage was planned and carried out by forces under the influence of the “Iranian axis of evil and radical Islam,” prompting a denial and strong reaction from Tehran.
When will the operation resume?
Traffic on France’s high-speed rail network is expected to return to normal on Monday, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriet announced today, after acts of sabotage on the network caused chaos for travellers yesterday.
Olympic Games: Normal operation of the railway network is expected for Monday