Brandanschlag - Attack on rail network increases concerns around Olympia
Brandan attacks on the high-speed network of the French Railways have increased safety concerns for the Olympics before the opening ceremony. Repair work is underway, but the SNCF expects delays and cancellations of TGV high-speed trains throughout the entire weekend of the Summer Games in Paris. According to the company, connections to and from Stuttgart and Frankfurt are also affected.
Unknown individuals set fires at various locations on the railway infrastructure during the night on Friday. Media reports indicate that signal boxes were set alight and cables were cut. Chaos and significant disruptions ensued. Thousands of travelers were stranded in train stations and sometimes waited for hours to find out what was happening.
The acting French Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, referred to these acts as "coordinated sabotage." SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou also believes that this was a planned act, as the sabotage occurred at strategically important junctions in the railway network. The prosecutor's office has already launched investigations. The identity of those behind the attacks and their exact motives were initially unclear.
Three high-speed rail lines affected
According to SNCF, there were attacks on three high-speed rail axes: the East axis, which runs from Paris to Strasbourg and further to Germany; the North axis, on which the Eurostar to Cologne and London operates; and the Atlantic axis from Paris towards Southwest. SNCF reported that an attack on the Southeast axis was thwarted. The attacks occurred in Courtalain, Croisilles, and Pagny-sur-Moselle.
The railway is working under high pressure to repair the damages. Passengers are advised to check the internet to see if their scheduled train is actually running or if there are any deviations.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attacks as unacceptable. "This is something that must be condemned. Interfering with a peace celebration with acts of violence can never be accepted and demands decisive rejection," said the SPD politician during a visit to the German embassy in Paris just before the opening ceremony.
Vacationers and Olympic fans may need a lot of patience
The consequences for the French railway system are significant and will likely be noticeable throughout the entire weekend. According to French railway estimates, 800,000 people will have to deal with disruptions and cancellations.
On the route to the Stade de France in the north of Paris - where rugby matches and athletics competitions are taking place - there were initial restrictions on the sports events, as no training or competition was scheduled on Friday.
IOC has no security concerns
IOC President Thomas Bach was not alarmed by the railway attacks. "We have full trust in the French authorities," said the President of the International Olympic Committee. All necessary security measures have been taken, he added. The French authorities will be supported by 180 intelligence services from around the world, Bach explained.
The Games in Paris will be officially opened with a pompous show on the Seine. Approximately 45,000 security forces are expected to be in action.
Before the Olympic Games, police and military significantly increased their presence in Paris. France had raised the highest terror alert level in March. At the end of May, investigators thwarted plans for an Islamic terrorist attack on a football match during the Olympic Games.
- The Prime Minister of France, Gabriel Attal, has labeled the railway attacks as "coordinated sabotage."
- The disruptions in the French railway system, caused by the attacks, are expected to affect connections to Stuttgart and Frankfurt as well.
- According to the SNCF, there were attacks on three high-speed rail axes: the East, North, and Atlantic axes.
- The Public Prosecutor's Office in France has launched investigations into the railway attacks.
- The attacks occurred at strategically important junctions on the railway network, as per the SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou's belief.
- The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has condemned the attacks as unacceptable during his visit to the German embassy in Paris.
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, has expressed full trust in the French authorities and their security measures for the Olympic Games.
- Thousands of vacationers and Olympic fans may need to be patient due to the significant disruptions and cancellations on the French railway system.
