France’s TGV high-speed train network suffered coordinated sabotage in a series of pre-dawn attacks across the country, causing widespread travel chaos just hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
The incidents exposed significant security vulnerabilities amid heightened preparations for the sporting event.
The state-owned railway operator, SNCF, reported damage to signal substations and cables on lines connecting Paris with Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. An attack on the Paris-Marseille line was foiled. While no group has claimed responsibility, initial suspicions fell on leftist militants or environmental activists, though no evidence has yet confirmed this.
The Paris prosecutor’s office announced that its organized crime office would oversee the investigation, with the anti-terrorist sub-directorate (SDAT) coordinating efforts. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized that the attacks were planned and targeted nerve centers of the network, indicating significant knowledge of the rail system.
The sabotage has heightened anxiety ahead of the Olympics’ opening ceremony. Operations at the Basel-Mulhouse airport on the France-Switzerland border were briefly halted due to a bomb alert. Despite these disruptions, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach expressed confidence in French authorities.
Over 300,000 spectators are expected to line the River Seine to watch the athletes’ parade in Paris, which will be secured by 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents. Snipers will be stationed on rooftops, and drones will monitor from above.
The TGV attacks left hundreds of thousands stranded, with Eurostar’s London-Paris services diverted to slower lines and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn warning of long-distance service disruptions. The SNCF urged travelers to postpone their journeys, stating that repairs would continue through the weekend.
At the Gare de L’Est, frustrated passengers like Xavier Hiegel expressed disbelief at the attacks, emphasizing the positive economic impact of the Olympics. SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou reported that around 800,000 customers were affected, and thousands of rail staff were deployed for repairs.
Valerie Pecresse, president of the Paris region, described the attacks as an effort to destabilize France. Paris 2024 officials are working with the SNCF to address the situation, but the disruption complicates travel plans for many heading to the capital.
“This attack is not a coincidence, it’s an effort to destabilize France,” Pecresse said. For many, the sabotage has marred what was supposed to be a joyful and momentous occasion. Parisian Brigitte Dupont lamented, “Today is the opening of the Olympic Games, a huge event that was supposed to be magnificent, and this is spoiling people’s joy.”
