French transport was thrown into chaos on Friday just hours before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games after a series of coordinated “malicious acts” disrupted high-speed rail lines.
Authorities said the arson attacks and other acts of vandalism on the rail system were a form of sabotage on a key day of the Games. There was no indication of a direct connection to the Olympics, but authorities are investigating.
The railway system linking Paris to the rest of France and neighbouring countries disrupted the movement of hundreds of thousands of travellers. No injuries have been reported.
Here’s what you need to know:
What happened to the railway network?
Details are still emerging, but authorities say there were arson attacks and other “criminal acts” of vandalism.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said people fled the fires and incendiary devices were discovered. Authorities said they had found at least three fires, causing disruptions that particularly affected Paris’ Montparnasse station.
“Everything indicates that these are criminal arson attacks,” said Vergriete.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said intelligence services were trying to find the perpetrators of the attack. “acts of sabotage” that he described as “prepared and coordinated.” They came amid global tensions and heightened security measures in Paris as the city prepares for the 2024 Olympics.
Paris prosecutors have launched investigations into crimes that could carry sentences of between 15 and 20 years in prison.
Jean-Pierre Farandou, the director general of the SNCF railway company, told French broadcaster BFMTV that the acts showed “a desire to seriously harm” the French people and that their nature involved “a premeditated, calculated and coordinated attack.” How will the arson attacks affect the 2024 Olympics? French trains and the wider transport system suffered delays, with some journeys taking hours longer than normal or stopping altogether.
Paris: Stranded passengers wait at the Gare du Nord station in Paris, France, July 26, 2024. (EPA-EFE/RITCHIE B. TONGO VIA PTI)
Delays extended to London stations. Many travellers were planning to arrive in Paris for the opening ceremony and many tourists, including Parisians hoping to escape the Olympics, were also in transit.
An SNCF official on the Atlantique line said two of its trains carrying athletes to the Olympics were stopped, including one trip that was cancelled.
Two German showjumping athletes said they would miss the opening ceremony due to long delays, German news agency dpa reported.
“It’s a real shame, but we would have been too late,” said cyclist Philipp Weishaupt, who was riding with teammate Christian Kukuk. “There was no longer any chance of getting there in time.” The railway company said it did not know when traffic would resume and feared disruptions would last “at least the whole weekend” while it carries out repairs.
SNCF advised passengers to postpone their journeys and avoid going to stations, saying all tickets were exchangeable and refundable.
Who is behind the sabotage?
French authorities have not yet said who is suspected of planning and carrying out the arson attacks.
Asked whether the attacks could be linked to Russia, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said “maybe,” adding that the attacks could also have been of local origin. She called them “malicious acts.” Other French officials said it was too early to say whether there was any Russian connection.
Paris: Stranded passengers wait at the Gare du Nord station in Paris, France, July 26, 2024. (EPA-EFE/RITCHIE B. TONGO VIA PTI)
The reason people are asking that question is that French officials and cybersecurity experts in the United States and Europe have identified an intensified effort by Russia to undermine France, particularly the Olympics, and President Emmanuel Macron, who is one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters in Europe.
French authorities have also foiled several plots to disrupt the Olympics, including the arrest of a Russian man this week on suspicion of planning to destabilize the games.
How important are the Games for Paris?
The train disruptions mark a rocky start to the biggest event France has ever hosted. The Olympics are a crucial moment for Macron, who is facing a political crisis following recent parliamentary elections.
Macron will host more than 110 heads of state and government on Friday for the opening ceremony and championed a summit a day earlier where world and business leaders pledged billions in funding to support sports initiatives aimed at accelerating sustainable development.
The Olympics are the best way to convince the world to “choose France,” Macron said this week, using a slogan aimed at boosting foreign investment in the country. “They will promote our landscapes, our facilities, our know-how and our gastronomy.” Friday’s grand opening ceremony was set to welcome the world, but rail line failures and forecast storms appear to be literally spoiling Macron’s parade.
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