French railway SNCF: 'Massive Attack' on high-speed network
In the night to Friday, acts of arson have been committed amongst other things, it was further stated, to damage institutions. Traffic on the affected lines was reportedly "significantly disrupted". A person close to the case spoke of "sabotage". The affected tracks were reportedly in the north, east, and at the Atlantic coast. The railway line in the south-east of the country was not affected, according to SNCF: "A malicious act was thwarted here".
The company urged passengers to reschedule their journeys and avoid the train stations. In the evening, the Olympic Games were to be opened with a spectacular ceremony on the Seine in Paris. Approximately 70,000 athletes and 300,000 spectators are participating.
The acts of arson and sabotage occurred on various lines, impacting the massive railway network operated by SNCF, the French national railway company. The disrupted lines were located in the north, east, and at the Atlantic coast, causing significant delays for passengers. Fortunately, the railway line in the south-east of the country remained unaffected.
A French express-network, TGV, was not affected directly by these incidents, but SNCF still advised passengers to reschedule their journeys due to potential delays. The AFP news agency reported the situation, stating that a malicious act was thwarted by SNCF at one point.
As the opening weekend of the Olympic Games approached in Paris, the disruptions threatened to impact travel plans for the expected 70,000 athletes and 300,000 spectators. The ceremony, scheduled for the evening, was to take place on the Seine, a symbolic location in the heart of the city.
