Sabotage on France's TGV Network Ahead of Paris Olympics

A coordinated sabotage effort disrupted France's TGV high-speed train network, causing travel chaos just before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The attacks targeted key rail lines and security installations, prompting a massive response involving police and soldiers. The sabotage has raised concerns about security for the Games.

In a series of pre-dawn attacks, saboteurs struck France's TGV high-speed train network, causing widespread travel disruptions on the eve of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The coordinated sabotage targeted signal substations and cables on key rail lines, exposing significant security vulnerabilities.

SNCF, France's state-owned railway operator, reported the damages affected lines connecting Paris with major cities. While the Paris-Marseille line faced an attempted but foiled attack, suspicions pointed towards leftist militants or environmental activists, though no group claimed responsibility.

The Paris prosecutor's office, alongside the anti-terrorist sub-directorate, is probing the sabotage as part of an organized crime investigation. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized the attack's coordinated nature, suggesting extensive knowledge of the rail network.

The attacks disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands, with Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn services affected and travellers urged to postpone their journeys. France has deployed 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents to secure the Games, but the incident has marred an otherwise celebratory atmosphere.

SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou stated that up to 800,000 passengers were impacted, while officials like Paris region president Valerie Pecresse saw it as an effort to destabilize France. Additional security measures and ongoing repairs aim to restore normalcy amid heightened tensions.

(With inputs from agencies.)