Vandals launched a coordinated attack on France’s high-speed train network, causing widespread disruption to key rail lines just days before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The state-owned railway operator, SNCF, reported that arsonists targeted installations along lines connecting Paris to cities like Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. In response, SNCF urged all travelers to postpone their journeys, as repairs are underway but service disruptions are expected to last until the end of the weekend. Trains are being sent back to their points of origin.
“Last night, the SNCF was victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations,” the SNCF said in a statement. The coordinated attacks on the rail network raise concerns ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony in the heart of Paris. France has deployed an unprecedented peacetime security operation for the Games, with over 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents on duty. Snipers will be positioned on rooftops and drones will provide aerial surveillance.
Paris 2024 said they are working closely with the SNCF to assess the situation. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and it remains unclear if they are politically motivated. Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete described the acts as criminal. In response, the Paris police chief announced an increase in security measures at the capital’s main train stations. Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera condemned the vandalism, stating, “It’s completely appalling. To target the games is to target France.”
At Gare de L’Est, traveler Corinne Lecocq reported that her train to Strasbourg had been cancelled. “We’ll take the slow line,” she said. “I’m on holiday so it’s OK, even if it is irritating to be late.”
