'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know

'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know

SNCF said saboteurs had damaged fibre-optic cables vital for the safe operation of the trains
SNCF said saboteurs had damaged fibre-optic cables vital for the safe operation of the trains. Photo: Denis CHARLET / AFP
Source: AFP

Arson attacks scrambled France's high-speed rail network for tens of thousands of passengers on Friday, after what officials called premeditated acts of "sabotage" just hours before the Paris Olympics opened.

Friday's attacks were launched as the French capital was under heavy security ahead of the Games opening ceremony, with 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs expected at the event.

What was targeted?

Fires that affected France's Atlantic, northern and eastern lines led to cancellations and delays at a time of particularly heavy traffic for summer holiday travel.

Some 800,000 passengers were affected by the attacks on France's high-speed train network
Some 800,000 passengers were affected by the attacks on France's high-speed train network. Photo: Thibaud MORITZ / AFP
Source: AFP

"Early this morning, coordinated and prepared acts of sabotage were perpetrated against installations of SNCF," the national rail operator, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said.

Read also

Arsonists attack train network ahead of Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

SNCF chief executive Jean-Pierre Farandou said the attackers had started fires in "conduits carrying multiple (fibre-optic) cables" that relay "safety information for drivers" or control the motors for points that change rails.

Who is affected?

Around 800,000 passengers are expected to be affected over the weekend as the damage is heavy and labour-intensive to repair.

France's rail network was expected to be busy this weekend, not only due to the Olympics but also as people return from or leave for their summer holidays.

France: three high-speed rail lines hit by arson attacks
France: three high-speed rail lines hit by arson attacks. Photo: Valentin RAKOVSKY, Valentina BRESCHI / AFP
Source: AFP

"There are huge and serious consequences for the rail network," added Attal.

Passenger services chief Christophe Fanichet said there were delays of 90 minutes to two hours on services between Paris and France's north and east.

"We ask people please not to come to the station, because if you haven't heard from us, your train won't be running," Fanichet told reporters.

One major branch of the network, the line to France's southeast, was spared.

Read also

Greece's 'Instagram island' Santorini nears saturation point

High-speed rail operator Eurostar said around one in four services across its network linking France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany would be cancelled, including trains from Paris to London.

Others would be slower as they will run on regular lines not designed for high-speed trains.

What happens now?

Farandou of SNCF said: "There's a huge number of bundled cables. We have to repair them one by one, it's a manual operation" requiring "hundreds of workers".

SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou said a 'huge number' of cables would have to be repaired 'one by one'
SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou said a 'huge number' of cables would have to be repaired 'one by one'. Photo: Thibaud MORITZ / AFP
Source: AFP

But by early afternoon Friday, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said that some departures were going ahead, with "one in three" trains operating from Paris's Montparnasse station, terminus of the line towards Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast.

He too urged people not to come to the station without confirmation of their trip.

At Montparnasse, passengers were waiting for information, with display boards showing delays of more than two hours.

"Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29," read one of the signs in the departure hall.

Read also

In swing state Pennsylvania, middle class struggles to get by

Paris's RATP transport network was also operating under "increased vigilance" following the railway attacks, its chief executive Jean Castex said as he visited a control station.

Who are the culprits?

SNCF CEO Farandou said railway workers doing night maintenance in central France had spotted unauthorised people, who fled when the workers called in police.

France's intelligence services were scrambling to determine the perpetrators of the sabotage, a security source told AFP. The arson method used resembled past attacks by extreme-left actors, the source added.

In September, arson attacks on conduits holding railway cables caused travel chaos in northern Germany, with a claim of responsibility posted to an extreme-left website.

What legal action is being taken?

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement her office had opened a probe into a suspected bid to undermine "fundamental national interests".

The investigation will also look at suspected damage inflicted by an organised gang and attacks on an automated data processing system.

Read also

American Airlines reports lower profits but wins on IT outage

Her statement described the acts of sabotage as "deliberate damage caused to sites of SNCF on the night of July 25-26, 2024."

New feature: Сheck out news that is picked for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.