In a shocking turn of events, the French train operator SNCF announced on Friday that the country’s high-speed rail network was severely disrupted by acts of vandalism, including arson attacks. The incidents, which occurred just hours before the highly anticipated opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, were described by authorities as coordinated acts of “sabotage.”
SNCF reported that the attacks, aimed at paralyzing the TGV network, had significantly impacted the Atlantic, northern, and eastern lines, forcing many routes to be canceled. A source close to the investigation revealed that these acts were deliberately orchestrated to inflict maximum disruption.
“Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities,” SNCF stated, emphasizing the extensive damage caused. While some trains were diverted to alternative tracks, a large number had to be canceled, prompting SNCF to urge passengers to postpone their trips and avoid train stations.
The southeastern line narrowly escaped disruption as a malicious act was foiled in time. Meanwhile, Eurostar confirmed that its services between London and Paris were also affected, leading to several cancellations and extended journey times.
The sabotage occurred as Paris braced for the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, an event set to draw 300,000 spectators and numerous VIPs. The ceremony, featuring a unique parade of competitors along the river Seine, marks the first time the Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium. This high-profile event has heightened security concerns, with France on its highest alert for terror attacks.
At Paris’s Montparnasse train station, frustrated passengers faced delays ranging from 30 minutes to nearly two hours. Normal traffic is expected to resume by Monday, July 29. Jocelyn, a 27-year-old student, expressed her disappointment, stating, “We expected it to be a bit chaotic in Paris with the opening ceremony scheduled for this evening, but we didn’t think it could be this bad.”
As the city prepares to welcome the world for the Olympics, authorities are working tirelessly to address the fallout from these unprecedented attacks on the nation’s rail infrastructure.
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