French authorities are probing the possible involvement of ultra-left movements in attacks that paralyzed the rail network at the start of the Olympic Games. New acts of sabotage have targeted fiber optic cables in several areas, adding to concerns about further disruptions during the Games.
On Sunday, French authorities arrested an activist from an ultra-left movement at a site belonging to the national rail operator SNCF. Police discovered that cables belonging to several telecom operators had been sabotaged in six areas of France overnight, although Paris was not affected. Major carriers including Free and SFR confirmed the incidents, attributing the damage to deliberate acts of vandalism. While the impact on service was minimized, with only 10,000 fixed-line customers affected, the incidents have sparked concern about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
Paris chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced a second criminal investigation into the fiber optic cable incidents, suspecting the perpetrators of “causing material damage with the intention of harming fundamental interests of the nation.”
The arrested activist, detained at Oissel in northern France, had access keys to SNCF technical premises, tools, and literature linked to the “ultra-left.” He is currently in police custody in Rouen for questioning. However, there is no immediate link between him and the investigation into the attacks that occurred earlier in the week.
On Friday, unknown individuals attacked three different railway installations in different parts of France, causing days of chaos on the high-speed network. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that authorities are investigating the theory that “ultra-left” movements were behind the attacks, citing the intentional nature and targeting of the sabotage as consistent with their modus operandi.
Darmanin emphasized that authorities are making progress in identifying the perpetrators, but declined to comment on whether the saboteurs had inside information from SNCF.
An email received by several French media outlets claimed responsibility for the attacks, using rhetoric typical of militant groups and criticizing the Olympics as a “celebration of nationalism.” However, police sources cautioned against accepting the email as a definitive claim, suggesting it could have been an opportunistic attempt to capitalize on the situation.
By Monday morning, all high-speed trains in France were running normally again, thanks to the round-the-clock efforts of railway engineers to repair the damage. The cost of the sabotage is estimated to reach millions of euros, including commercial losses and repair costs.
While it remains unclear if the police are linking the sabotage attacks on the telecommunications and rail cables, the incidents have raised concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. Nicolas Guillaume of Netalis, a fiber optic operator, expressed frustration with the state’s apparent lack of awareness regarding the potential for attacks on strategic infrastructure. He cited the SNCF sabotage as a stark reminder of the growing threat.
