Diversions Occur on Rail Lines Ahead of Olympic Games Opening in Paris

The SNCF high-speed rail operator has been forced to halt traffic across a significant portion of the country following a series of fires on the opening day of the Olympic Games. Passengers are posting photos on social media of crowds at Paris train stations, reports the Financial Times.

“Intentional arsons have been committed with the aim of damaging our infrastructure, and engineering teams have already been dispatched to address the issues,” the SNCF stated. “We will operate a number of regular trains, but many high-speed trains will have to be canceled.”

Several “acts of vandalism” occurred on TGV rail routes linking Paris to the Atlantic coast, northern France, and the East, according to SNCF. Traffic disruptions will remain in effect over the weekend.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete indicated that the disruptions could affect approximately 800,000 passengers. SNCF's CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou noted that three fires occurred simultaneously, damaging pipes that carried electrical cables. Flammable materials were also found at the fire sites.

“An attack on the Games is an attack on France. It’s simply terrifying. The opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games is scheduled for this evening in Paris,” said France's Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, in response to questions about the arson incidents on the railways.

Eurostar train operators have announced planned delays on services from London due to tensions on the French rail network. French security services are actively preparing for attempts to destabilize the situation, with 45,000 police patrolling Paris, including potential cyberattacks.

In June, attacks were made on the Grand Palais cultural exhibition center and film festival websites. Hackers, linked by cybersecurity experts to Russian intelligence services, had characterized the attack as a drill.

“Considering the sequence of statements from this group, it intends to carry out large-scale attacks in Paris during the summer Olympic Games,” wrote experts from the cybersecurity company Cyble.

The Russian team has been barred from participating in the Games due to the war unleashed by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. Only 15 athletes will compete under a neutral status, without a flag or anthem.

This year, several fires have already occurred in various European countries, which Western intelligence attributes to Russian espionage. “No one can be 100 percent prepared. At best, you are prepared with 99%,” said Eric Greffier, Business and Technology Director of Cisco Systems France, an official partner of the Games. “You know what you know, but unfortunately, you don’t know what you don’t know.”