French rail system  targeted by ‘malicious acts’ hours before opening of Paris Olympics

New Delhi, July 26: Just hours before the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, the French rail company SNCF announced that its high-speed network had been targeted by “malicious acts” aimed at paralyzing the system.

Despite this, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach expressed confidence in the French authorities, stating, “I don’t have concerns… We have full confidence in the French authorities.”

A series of fires impacted French high-speed rail lines, causing widespread disruptions and chaos. SNCF described the incident as a “massive attack aimed at paralyzing the network,” with France’s Transport Minister condemning the “coordinated malicious acts.”

The sabotage has affected approximately 800,000 customers, with disruptions expected to continue throughout the weekend. Eurostar has advised its customers to postpone their trips due to ongoing delays and cancellations.

Significant disruptions have been reported on several high-speed TGV lines to the west, north, and east of Paris, leading to long queues at Paris’s Gare Montparnasse station.

SNCF President Jean-Pierre Farandou explained that the repair work would be extensive, as the attackers had started fires in conduits carrying multiple fibre-optic cables crucial for relaying safety information to drivers.

“There’s a huge number of bundled cables. We have to repair them one-by-one; it’s a manual operation requiring hundreds of workers,” Farandou added.

The head of an SNCF subsidiary branch mentioned that the network is expecting 250,000 travellers to be affected today and 800,000 over the weekend. Eurostar has also announced fresh delays and cancellations to services between the UK and France, with two services from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord already cancelled.

France Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete condemned these “criminal acts,” emphasizing their impact on people’s holiday plans and the nation’s infrastructure during a crucial time. “This is an attack on our national infrastructure during a crucial time,” he stated. The disruptions have led to numerous train cancellations, with SNCF warning that the situation could persist “at least all weekend while repairs are conducted.”

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics is scheduled to start at 18:30 BST tonight, with events taking place along the River Seine in Paris. The Paris Olympics, running from July 26 to August 11, will feature 10,500 athletes competing in 329 events, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8, with 4,400 athletes participating in 549 events. A total of 206 countries will be represented at the Olympics, and 184 at the Paralympics.

The BBC reported that an unprecedented security operation is in place for the Games, addressing challenges related to the cleanliness of the Seine, costs, and the environmental impact. This security effort marks the largest peacetime deployment of security forces in French history, with up to 75,000 police, soldiers, and hired guards patrolling Paris to secure venues and events.

The opening ceremony will be a historic event, featuring competitors parading on boats along the River Seine through central Paris. Major athletics events will be held at the Stade de France on the northern outskirts of Paris, with additional Olympic and Paralympic venues spread throughout the city. The Pont d’Iena will host cycling events, beach volleyball will take place at the Eiffel Tower, and the marathon will start at the Hotel de Ville and end at Les Invalides.