French rail network hit by arson attacks before Olympics opening ceremony

[muriel_volestrangler]

Last edited Fri Jul 26, 2024, 05:07 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Guardian

France’s high-speed rail network has been hit by coordinated “malicious acts” including arson attacks that have brought major disruption to many of the country’s busiest rail lines hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

The state-owned railway operator, SNCF, said arsonists had targeted installations along the lines connecting Paris with the country’s west, north and east and that traffic would be severely disrupted across the country during the weekend.
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The national train operator said it had been “the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight”, adding that the attacks affected its Atlantic, northern and eastern lines. Crucial cables had been cut and burned.

“Arson attacks were started in order to damage our facilities,” the SNCF said, adding that traffic on the affected lines was “heavily disrupted”. A further attack was averted on the south-eastern line, French media reported.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/vandals-target-french-rail-network-olympics-opening-ceremony

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Fires were started at three points on TGV lines running west, north and east of Paris.

A fourth arson attack on the line running south to Lyon and the Mediterranean was foiled.

The result is that TGV trains are being diverted onto other lines, leading to delays of up to two hours and some cancellations.
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800,000 travellers affected, says SNCF president

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cxe24vg59lzt

For the start of the Olympics, and the summer holidays. No one has claimed responsibility yet, but suspects include the Russians - "Paris Olympics: Russian chef arrested over plot to 'provoke hostilities'"

(Headline changed at source - it used to be "Vandals target French rail network before Olympics opening ceremony&quot