The French railway operator, SNCF, revealed on Friday that it encountered “malicious acts” on its railway network, including deliberate arson attacks, resulting in the cancellation of train services shortly before the commencement of the Olympic Games in Paris.
SNCF announced in a statement that multiple simultaneous attacks occurred on Thursday night, resulting in fire damage to its facilities. The high-speed LGV Atlantique line connecting Paris to the coast, as well as the northern and eastern lines, were impacted by these attacks.
As a result, delays are anticipated on various domestic and intercity routes. Moreover, international Eurostar services linking the U.K., France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany were also affected by the disruptions.
Eurostar issued a statement indicating, “Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille, all high-speed trains to and from Paris are being rerouted via the conventional line today, Friday 26 July. This will lengthen the travel time by approximately an hour and a half.” Consequently, several train services have been canceled.
The perpetrators of these incidents have not been identified at this time.
These attacks occurred just before the scheduled opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, set to take place on the banks of the River Seine in Paris at 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. ET) on Friday. The event is expected to attract thousands of athletes and spectators, accompanied by extensive police security presence.
