France’s high-speed train network experienced major disruptions on July 26 due to several “malicious” acts, including arson, aimed at causing widespread travel chaos just before the Paris Olympics. These incidents have been labeled “an attack on France” and “coordinated sabotage” by officials. The French state railway company, SNCF, announced via a post that many trains were either diverted or canceled. They urged travelers to postpone their trips and avoid stations. The disturbances are anticipated to continue through the weekend, disrupting the plans of over a million people, including French vacationers, Olympic athletes, and tourists.
The sabotage involved fires set in pipes carrying cables, discovered around 04:00 am (local time). SNCF indicated that the saboteurs either vandalized or attempted to vandalize five signal boxes and electrical installations. An additional attack on another TGV junction to the southeast of Paris, at Vergigny, was prevented by SNCF workers performing maintenance in the early morning hours.
These coordinated acts of sabotage have raised significant concerns about security and the robustness of critical infrastructure as France prepares to host the global event. The French authorities are now investigating the incidents and taking measures to ensure the safety and reliability of the train services moving forward.
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