France’s high-speed rail network were severely disrupted by what authorities are calling “coordinated” arson attacks, just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The attacks have left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded and added to the security challenges facing the city.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal expressed concern over the situation, stating, “The consequences on the rail network are massive and serious.” He offered sympathy to those affected and acknowledged the inconvenience for French families who had planned to travel. Attal assured that “our intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts.”
The fires have damaged several cables
The French state rail company reported that the fires had damaged “a huge number” of cables that provide crucial safety information to train drivers. Repairing the network is a complex task, involving hundreds of workers and requiring a manual operation. “We have to repair them one-by-one,” said the company president, as per a report from AFP.
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Despite the disruptions, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach expressed confidence in the French authorities’ ability to manage the situation. “We have full confidence in the French authorities,” he said.
Repair teams were on-site beginning Friday to address the damage. The railway company, SNCF, indicated that repairs would take at least the entire weekend, although some services had partially resumed by Friday afternoon, according to CNN.
The attacks underscore the vulnerability of France’s infrastructure, especially as the country hosts the Olympics. With events also taking place across the country, security remains a significant concern.
While no perpetrators have been identified yet, the disruption highlights ongoing security challenges in a nation still reeling from past terror attacks.
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