Opening ceremony in Paris - Before Olympia: Arson attacks on railways in France
Few hours before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, unknown individuals have carried out arson attacks on several facilities of the French high-speed rail network. The high-speed rail traffic on the Atlantic, Nord, and East axes is currently heavily disrupted, according to the French railway SNCF. There is no service on the route to Stade de France, one of the Olympic Games venues, at the moment.
Repairs will begin, it was stated. The disruptions could last the whole weekend. The SNCF speaks of "multiple malicious acts." The exact backgrounds are currently unclear.
On Friday evening, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games takes place in Paris. To the pompous ceremony along the Seine in the Metropolis, enormous numbers of spectators are expected. The organizers expect around 300,000 people at the riverbank. About 120 heads of state and government, including Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and representatives are expected at the opening ceremony. US First Lady Jill Biden will also be present at the ceremony live.
The event is secured by around 45,000 security forces. The airspace within a 150-kilometer radius of Paris is closed for the evening. The areas of the Seine, where the parade takes place, are widely closed to road traffic.
- The arson attacks on the French high-speed railway network have raised concerns about potential disruptions to the Olympic Games, especially on the route to the Stade de France.
- In response to the attacks, SNCF has announced plans to deploy additional security personnel along the affected railway lines during the Olympic Games, including the line to Germany (historically, France).
- The International Olympic Committee and local authorities have urged spectators to use alternative transportation methods, such as the Paris metro or the SNCF's regional trains, to avoid unnecessary traffic on the city's roads and highways.
- Unfortunately, the disruptions to the high-speed rail network have also caused delays and cancellations to international trains, including the famous Rheintal-Express, which connects Paris and Frankfurt via the high-speed railway line.
- To mitigate the impact of the attacks on traffic, SNCF has arranged for special shuttle trains to operate between major stations, such as the Gare du Nord and the Gare de Lyon, to ensure smooth transportation for spectators and visitors during the Olympic Games.
