French authorities have arrested an “ultra-left activist” suspected of orchestrating sabotage attacks on the national railway system, Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF), causing significant disruption for travelers during the Paris Olympics. The arrest was made in Rouen, where the suspect allegedly broke into a railway site, according to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
Darmanin described the sabotage as “voluntary, very precise, extremely well targeted,” and typical of ultra-left tactics. He noted that the targeted locations were crucial for communication, indicating a high level of planning and intent to cause maximum disruption. “Clearly, it was extremely well-targeted, it was not done randomly,” Darmanin said.
The sabotage, which included cutting signal cables and setting them on fire, disrupted the travel plans of nearly a million people. SNCF president Jean-Pierre Farandou said the saboteurs chose locations to cause the greatest impact, calling it “a sad day” for the railway.
The arrested activist was found with items including spray paint cans, wire cutters, and keys for accessing SNCF technical rooms. The investigation is ongoing to determine if the suspect acted alone or as part of a larger group.
In a related incident, a suspicious letter containing “black powder” and racial slurs was sent to Interior Minister Darmanin and the Roubaix town hall. Initial tests indicated a slight positivity for the plague, but further analysis by the Institut Pasteur is needed to confirm the results. Authorities have warned that the initial test might be a false positive.
Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari condemned the sabotage, which also affected telecommunications infrastructure. She praised the repair teams and stressed the importance of restoring services. “I condemn in the strongest terms these cowardly and irresponsible acts,” Ferrari said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to addressing and preventing such incidents.
