French train network hit by ‘malicious’ arson attacks hours before Olympics ceremony, rail firm says

French rail company SNCF says its high-speed network has been targeted by “malicious acts” aimed at paralysing the system.

It comes hours before the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympic Games.

Several high-speed TGV lines have been hit to the west, north and east of Paris and queues have formed at Gare Montparnasse station in the city.

A number of trains have been cancelled and SNCF has warned that the situation could last “at least all weekend while repairs are conducted”.

Hours ahead of the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Paris, the French railway company SNCF says it’s been hit by a series of “malicious acts” aimed at paralysing its high-speed network.

“Last night, the SNCF was the victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations,” the SNCF said in a statement.

Let’s bring you some comments from the French transport minister, who has strongly condemned “criminal acts” following vandalism on the rail network overnight.

Posting on social media Patrice Vergriete wrote: “Co-ordinated malicious acts targeted several TGV lines last night and will seriously disrupt traffic until this weekend.

“I strongly condemn these criminal actions which will compromise the vacation departures of many French people.”

Vergriete went on to thank SNCF staff for trying to restore services “as quickly as possible”.

We’re beginning to see some further details about what happened overnight to the rail networks in Paris.

AFP news agency has just reported comments they have received from a source close to the investigation who says the arson attacks were acts of “sabotage”.

Their source added that the attacks were “evidently co-ordinated”, according to the news agency.

SNCF says it’s been a victim overnight of a “massive attack aimed at paralysing the network”.

Fires were started at three points on TGV lines running west, north and east of Paris.

A fourth arson attack on the line running south to Lyon and the Mediterranean was foiled.

The result is that TGV trains are being diverted onto other lines, leading to delays of up to two hours and some cancellations.

Repairs will not be completed until after the weekend.

No claim of responsibility has been made but it is hard not to see a link with the Olympic Games.

This was always going to be a very busy day in Paris stations, with visitors arriving for the opening ceremony in one direction, and in the other many Parisians leaving at the start of their summer holiday.

Source: BBC