France’s high-speed TGV rail network was hit by several “malicious acts”, including acts of arson, on Friday, disrupting some of the country’s busiest rail lines just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The attacks have been described as “coordinated sabotage” to disrupt travel ahead of the Games.
State-owned SNCF said arsonists targeted installations on lines linking Paris to the western, northern and eastern regions. Travel to and from London under the English Channel and to neighboring Belgium has also been affected, the Associated Press reports.
The rail operator said it had to reroute and cancel several trains. Team members were on the spot to monitor repairs, it said, adding traffic would be badly affected over the weekend.
“SNCF has been the victim of several vandalism incidents on its Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations,” SNCF said in a statement.
Government officials criticized the attacks, which came hours before the Olympics opening ceremony, though there was no immediate indication of a link to the Games.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete denounced the “criminal incidents” in a post on X, and said the SNCF was working to restore traffic.
SNCF urged all passengers to postpone their journeys while repairs were underway and trains were being sent back to their departure points.
The rail company told news agency AFP that the aim of the massive attack was to “cripple the TGV network”.
It further said that around 800,000 passengers were affected by the attacks.
Eurostar also said the vandalism had disrupted its rail services between London and Paris, leading to a number of cancellations and extended journey times.
“Due to malicious activities in France that are affecting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille, all high-speed trains to and from Paris are being diverted via the classic line today, Friday 26 July,” Eurostar said in a statement, according to France 24. “This will increase travel times by around one and a half hours.”
The railway company said that many trains have been cancelled.
French police said officers were investigating the attacks.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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