Arson attacks paralyse French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics

In a shocking turn of events, France’s high-speed rail network fell victim to widespread and coordinated acts of vandalism on Friday, just hours before the grand opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The attacks, described by officials as “criminal actions,” paralyzed travel to the French capital from across the country and Europe, causing chaos for travellers and even impacting Olympic athletes en route to the Games.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal condemned the incidents as “acts of sabotage” with a “clear objective: blocking the high-speed train network.” The saboteurs targeted the Atlantique, Nord, and Est high-speed lines, strategically striking at remote locations to maximise disruption. Three separate fires were reported near the tracks, affecting hundreds of thousands of travellers and prompting a national investigation by Paris prosecutors.

The severity of the attacks was underscored by SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou, who described them as “a premeditated, calculated, coordinated attack” indicating “a desire to seriously harm” the French people. The saboteurs chose locations that would have the most significant impact, with each fire cutting off two lines.