Just hours before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, coordinated arson attacks severely disrupted France's high-speed rail network. This raised security concerns. According to French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, these acts of sabotage were carried out in a planned and coordinated manner and were directed towards important rail lines that run north, west, and east of Paris. Attal stressed that the attacks on nerve centers demonstrated a profound comprehension of the network's functioning.
There have been no arrests made and no identification of the offenders by the authorities. Rather than treating it as a counterterrorism case, the public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation under its organized crime framework, indicating a wide range of possible suspects.
Jean Castex, head of the Paris transport system and former French prime minister, ordered heightened vigilance across the capital’s transport network, focusing on sensitive sites. While no injuries were reported, the disruptions have severely impacted travel and tarnished France’s reputation ahead of the Games. Attal assured that intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilized to track down and punish those responsible.
Despite the attacks, the Olympic opening ceremony proceeded as planned, albeit under increased security measures. In preparation for the Games, France has deployed 15,000 soldiers, 35,000 police officers, and 22,000 private security contractors across the country. While the primary concern has been the threat of terrorist attacks akin to those in Paris in 2015 and Nice in 2016, fears of cyberattacks have also been prevalent. However, France’s cybersecurity agency confirmed that the train disruptions did not involve cyber elements.
Concerns have also arisen over reports of Russian-backed sabotage activities in Europe. Recently, French police detained a Russian national suspected of plotting to cause disruptions during the Games. Additionally, heightened tensions in the Middle East have necessitated increased security for Israeli athletes, including armed escorts, amid protests over the Gaza conflict and online threats.
France has experienced arson attacks on its railway systems before, often attributed to criminals or political activists. However, the scale and timing of these recent incidents, coinciding with the Olympics, have cast them in a new light.
Which services are affected by arson attacks on France's train network?
At least 800,000 passengers are expected to be affected by the disruptions on Friday, according to SNCF, and the transport minister has stated that up to 50% of services on the affected lines will be canceled. In the event of a cancellation, passengers will get a complete refund.
North: Paris-Lille and Paris-Arras routes face severe delays and cancellations, with TGV trains diverted to local lines, adding 1.5 hours to journeys. Normal service resumes Monday.
East: TGV Est lines to Strasbourg, Nancy, and Germany are disrupted. Services to Champagne, including Reims and Châlons, remain unaffected.
South-East: The LGV Sud-Est line to Lyon, Switzerland, and Italy is unaffected, as an attempted arson was thwarted.
West and South-West: TGV lines to Tours and Le Mans are severely affected. Travelers should postpone journeys until normal service resumes Monday. After 1:00 pm, a third of regular services from Paris-Gare Montparnasse will go to Bordeaux. There will be delays in the gradual resume of services to Brittany and Normandy.
Local Trains: TER services, particularly in northern France, may experience disruptions due to diverted TGV trains. Paris public transport remains unaffected, but Metro and bus services face disruptions due to Olympic security. Eurostar services between Paris and Lille are delayed and partially canceled.
French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra acknowledged the sabotage’s impact on travelers and athletes, emphasizing ongoing efforts to assess and mitigate the disruptions. Attal expressed gratitude to the firefighters, SNCF agents, and affected travelers for their patience and civic-mindedness in this challenging situation.