PARIS: France’s high-speed TGV rail network has been hit by “malicious acts”, disrupting some of the nation’s busiest lines on the day of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
“Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities,” said state-owned railway operator SNCF on Friday, adding that the “simultaneous malicious acts” had taken place overnight.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete called the “massive attack” against France’s high-speed TGV rail network an “outrageous criminal act”.
SNCF said many routes would have to be cancelled “at least all weekend while repairs are conducted”.
Arsonists had targeted installations along the lines connecting the capital, Paris, with the country’s west, north and east. The southeastern line was not affected as “a malicious act was foiled”, it said.
Trains to neighbouring Belgium and to London under the English Channel were also affected.
Paris is preparing for the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, with 7,500 athletes, 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs.
“Right on the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, [this is] a clear indication of the enormous security challenges France is facing with what appears to be this coordinated attack on the railway network,” said Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith.
National police said authorities are investigating what happened.
“It’s completely appalling,” Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera told BFMTV. “To target the games is to target France.”
More than 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 private security agents were deployed, with snipers on rooftops and drones keeping watch from the air.
Reporting from Paris, Smith said “an unprecedented security operation” was in place.
A large area along the Seine has been locked down for the ceremony, which will go along 6km (3.7 miles) of the river and “watched by more than 100 global leaders from countries across the world”, he said.
It was not immediately clear whether the attacks were linked to the international sports event, but a source close to the investigation told the AFP news agency that the attacks were acts of “sabotage”.
The attacks were “evidently coordinated”, the source said.
Al Jazeera’s Smith highlighted the tense geopolitical backdrop against which the games are taking place.
French President Emmanuel Macron had called for an “Olympic truce” during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and at the United Nations General Assembly in December.
“There is no ceasefire in Gaza. Israel has not stopped its bombing. And in Ukraine, Russia is still making territorial gains there, so there isn’t really much hope for an Olympic truce,” said Smith.
There have been accusations of double standards with Israel allowed to take part, with 88 athletes. “The Palestinian Olympic committee called for Israel to be blocked … because of the war in Gaza, but those calls have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
SNCF urged passengers to postpone their trips and stay away from train stations. Many French families are also heading on summer vacation this weekend.
SNCF chief executive Jean-Pierre Farandou said 800,000 passengers were affected.
Farandou said 800,000 passengers were affected.
