North News
Chandigarh, July 26
France’s high-speed rail network experienced significant disruptions due to coordinated “malicious acts,” including arson attacks, just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. According to The Guardian, the state-owned railway operator SNCF revealed that arsonists had targeted installations along the lines connecting Paris to the country’s west, north, and east, leading to major disruptions.
The SNCF stated in a press release, “A massive attack took place last night to paralyze the high-speed rail network.” The fires severely disrupted traffic on the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern lines, resulting in numerous train cancellations. Travelers were advised to postpone their trips if possible, The New York Times reported.
The incident has intensified the already tense atmosphere in Paris, where security measures have been heightened for weeks in preparation for the Friday night Opening Ceremony. Tens of thousands of police officers, alongside counterterrorism units and the military, have been deployed across the city to secure Olympic venues, tourist sites, train stations, and other key locations, the news outlet further said.
SNCF further told Agence France-Presse that the scale of the attack was significant, aiming to paralyze the TGV network. The operator indicated that many routes would be canceled, and the disruptions could last “at least all weekend while repairs are conducted.” The attacks involved the cutting and burning of crucial cables, affecting the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern lines, The Guardian further reported.
