Rural Acts of Sabotage Challenge Paris Olympics Opening

The grand opening of the Paris Olympics faced unexpected challenges as sabotage disrupted key transportation services. In the heart of Paris, streets were cordoned off, metro stations closed, and a significant security presence was established with thousands of police, soldiers, and guards deployed to ensure a smooth beginning to the Olympics. However, the saboteurs targeted rural areas outside the capital, striking at five crucial points.

France’s national rail company, SNCF, reported that saboteurs attacked or attempted to attack five signal boxes and electrical installations between 1:00 and 5:30 AM on Friday. One notable incident occurred at Courtalain, east of Le Mans and 150 km southwest of Paris. Local social media showcased an image of burned cables in a shallow ditch, highlighting the damage. Similar acts of arson and theft targeted cabling at Pagny-sur-Moselle, near Metz in the east, and Croisilles, close to Arras in the north. These were small sites but located at major junctions on the high-speed TGV network.

An additional attempt to sabotage a TGV junction southeast of Paris at Vergigny was thwarted by SNCF workers conducting maintenance during the early hours. This coordinated sabotage resulted in immediate impacts on one of France’s busiest days for its esteemed rail system. SNCF’s head, Jean-Pierre Farandou, described the attack as “premeditated, calculated, and coordinated,” necessitating extensive repairs.

Friday, July 26, marked both the start of the “grand départ” for holidaymakers leaving cities and the highly anticipated opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, planned meticulously over the years. Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at major Paris rail hubs like Gare Du Nord and Gare Montparnasse, waiting for updates on delayed trains heading not just across France but also to London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. The celebrated high-speed TGV network connecting Paris to Lille, Le Mans, and Strasbourg faced significant disruptions.

To mitigate the situation, SNCF officials at Gare de L’Est planned to reroute high-speed TGV trains onto slower lines, causing delays but ensuring continued operation of the rail network. Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete pointed to the deliberate nature of these fires, noting evidence like abandoned vans and incendiary materials found at the scenes.

Caretaker Prime Minister Gabriel Attal acknowledged the profound and serious repercussions for the rail network and confirmed that France’s intelligence services and law enforcement were mobilized to “find and punish those behind these criminal acts.