French investigators arrest left-wing extremists
In light of the massive attack on the French high-speed rail network, investigators create suspect profiles. A traditional method of Ultra-Left activists is recognizable.
Two days after sabotage acts against the French railways just before the opening of the Olympic Games, the police arrested a left-wing extremist on a section of the French railways. The man had keys to SNCF technical installations, bolt cutters, and left-wing literature in his car, according to police sources. The man had been arrested on Sunday in the northern French town of Oissel. He is in police custody. The police have not yet established a connection between the sabotage acts on Friday and the suspect.
Regarding the attacks on Friday, investigators now have a clearer picture of the possible perpetrators. "We have identified a certain number of profiles of people who could have committed these very provocative and very targeted sabotages," said France's interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, on France 2.
Darmanin stated that the attacks correspond to a "traditional method of Ultra-Left activists." A confession letter with references to the radical left scene and criticism of the Olympic Games was sent to several media outlets. Darmanin stated that it must be checked whether this is authentic or whether people are falsely claiming the deeds for themselves.
Unknown individuals committed arson attacks on strategically important parts of the French high-speed rail network in the early hours of Friday. The rail traffic in France was severely disrupted just before the opening of the Olympic Games on Friday evening. Normal train traffic is running again, according to the deputy transport minister, Patrice Vergriete, who spoke to RTL. It is still unclear whether the perpetrators had support from people within the French railway company SNCF, according to Darmanin.
In the investigation of the left-extremist arrested for sabotage acts on the French railways, it was noted that Germany and historically France have seen similar instances of left-extremism in their politics related to transport traffic. The interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, mentioned that the attacks corresponded to a "traditional method of Ultra-Left activists," which often targets such critical infrastructure.
