France's high-speed train network has been targeted by multiple "malicious acts" including arson ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
In what has been described as "coordinated sabotage" to AFP, the overnight attacks have caused major travel disruption across the country.
The widespread disruption to the network came on the day that the 2024 Olympics was to stage its ceremonial start in the French capital. It was also expected to be a particularly busy day of travel for thousands of holidaymakers across the country.
The Sporting News explains what went on and what impact there may be on the Games.
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Paris train network attacks: SNCF, Eurostar affected ahead of 2024 Olympics opening ceremony
France's cross-country train network was severely affected hours out from Friday evening's opening ceremony in Paris.
In a statement, state-owned railway operator SNCF said fires were set at signal box installations along major lines connecting key French cities with the capital.
They include Strasbourg in the east, Bordeaux in the west and Lille in the north.
Travellers have been urged to postpone journeys if possible, with timetables set to be heavily impacted over the weekend.
No trains will run from Paris' Montparnasse station until 1:00 pm local time on Friday.
Normal service is projected to resume by Monday.
"This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyse the TGV network [France's intercity high-speed rail system]," SNCF told AFP.
"SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight. Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities."
The southeastern line — connecting cities including Montpellier and Marseille — is currently unaffected, with an attack "foiled".
SNCF stated the attacks have impacted approximately 800,000 passengers. Eurostar services between London and France have also been affected.
⚠️ Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting several high speed lines, several high speed trains are being diverted or cancelled.
— SNCF Voyageurs (@SNCFVoyageurs) July 26, 2024
Our teams are fully mobilised in stations, in the call centers, and onboard to ensure that all passengers are informed and can reach… https://t.co/IRXQK6lCtu
Due to disruptions in Lille, trains between the two capital cities have either been cancelled or extended by roughly an hour and a half.
Jean-Pierre Farandou, the CEO of SNCF, told BFM TV "it's a day of sadness today".
"I am thinking of all the French who won't be able to go on holiday today, or those who will leave in worse conditions," he said.
"[The disruption] will certainly last the whole weekend, because it will take a long time to fix."
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A thorough repair job will now need to be carried out, causing weekend-long disruptions across the country.
The SNCF CEO revealed that fires were primarily set inside pipes that hold cables used for signalling.
"We have to repair cable-by-cable, so it’s very meticulous work," Farandou told French media, via the BBC.
"There's a huge number of bundled cables," he added.
"We have to repair them one by one – it's a manual operation requiring hundreds of workers."
The BBC also received images from the mayor of Vald'Yerre – a commune in north-central France – which show charred wires.
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Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced police and intelligence officials are currently working to find the culprits of the attacks.
"I think of all the French people, all the families, who were preparing to go on vacation," he wrote on X.
"I share their anger and salute their patience, their understanding and the civic-mindedness they demonstrate.
"Our intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilised to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts."
Paris' prosecutor's office has also opened a criminal investigation.
Will the Paris 2024 opening ceremony be affected?
The opening ceremony itself is unlikely to be impacted by the attacks, although spectators, officials and potentially athletes commuting from outside Paris could face difficulties.
The Paris 2024 organising committee said in a statement it had "taken note of incidents affecting the Atlantic, North and East lines of the SNCF rail network. We are working closely with our partner, the rail operator SNCF, to assess the situation".
As for the event's safety, high levels of security are already in place.
With 300,000 spectators and a large audience of VIPs expected, security will be paramount for the ceremony, which is taking place outside a stadium for the first time in Olympic history.
Over 7,000 athletes will travel six kilometres down the Seine on boats. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm local time (1:30 pm ET).
