In a series of pre-dawn attacks, saboteurs targeted France’s TGV high-speed train network, causing widespread chaos on some of the nation’s busiest rail lines just ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. This act of sabotage comes as France ramps up an unprecedented peacetime security operation, mobilizing tens of thousands of police and soldiers to secure the capital for the Games, drawing security resources from across the country.
The state-owned railway operator, SNCF, reported that signal boxes on lines connecting Paris with cities such as Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg were damaged. An attack on the Paris-Marseille line was thwarted. These coordinated strikes left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded at rail stations.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete, speaking at Gare du Nord, confirmed the criminal nature of these acts. Initial suspicions point to hardline leftist militants or environmental activists, though no group has claimed responsibility yet. The attacks have heightened apprehension as the Olympics opening ceremony, expected to draw over 300,000 spectators to the banks of the River Seine, looms.
The SNCF has urged travelers to postpone their journeys, with repairs underway but severe disruptions expected until the weekend’s end. Trains are being sent back to their departure points as repairs continue on the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines. SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou noted that around 800,000 customers have been affected, and thousands of rail staff are working to fix the damage.
Valerie Pecresse, president of the Paris region, labeled the attacks as an effort to destabilize France. The country is deploying 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents for the opening ceremony. Despite the high security in Paris, the rest of the country is less fortified, raising concerns about further disruptions.
Paris 2024 organizers are coordinating with the SNCF to assess the situation, which complicates travel for those heading to Paris. Some teams, such as the U.S. basketball team, were scheduled to travel by train to Lille on Saturday. Security at Paris’s main stations has been heightened, with the Paris police chief intensifying measures.
Travelers like Corinne Lecocq, whose train to Strasbourg was canceled, are trying to adapt. “We’ll take the slow line,” Lecocq said, expressing frustration over the delay. Another traveler, Xavier Hiegel, voiced his disbelief at the sabotage. “The Games bring jobs, so this really is nonsense. I hope the people responsible will be found and punished,” he said.
