Why were some French rail lines shut ahead of Paris Olympics opening ceremony? Everything about the chaos unfolding in France

By Anirudh

Modified Jul 26, 2024 14:33 GMT

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While final preparations have been underway in Paris to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and the Paralympics, the French capital was brought to a standstill hours before the Opening Ceremony.

Authorities have reported that "coordinated" attacks, including arson, have led to France's high-speed rail networks getting disrupted on Friday (July 26), according to a report by AXIOS. This has caused massive travel disruptions just hours before the Opening Ceremony.

Gabriel Attal, the French caretaker Prime Minister, has stated that these were "acts of sabotage" that were carried out in "a prepared and coordinated" manner.

"Early this morning, acts of sabotage were carried out in a prepared and coordinated manner on SNCF installations. The consequences on the rail network are massive and serious," he said in a post on X.

"I express my sincere gratitude to our firefighters who intervened on the affected sites and to the SNCF agents who will carry out the necessary work to restore the network. Our intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts," he added.

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Arson attacks cause disruptions ahead of Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, air traffic also disrputed

A general view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - Getty Images

SNCF, France's state-owned railway operator, has released a statement saying vandals had caused damage to signal substations and cables along the lines connecting Paris with cities like Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg.

There have also been reports of an attack on the Paris-Marseille line getting foiled.

Not long after that, all operations at the Basel-Mulhouse airport on France's border with Switzerland were briefly suspended due to a bomb alert. The airport terminals were quickly evacuated and the A35 highway nearby was also shut.

However, the airport announced around two hours later that the coast was clear and all operations were resuming as normal.

"The airport has reopened, and flight operations are gradually restarting. Passengers are requested to contact their airline for information about their flight. We wish you a safe and happy journey," the statement on X read.

Meanwhile, the arson attacks have had ripple effects beyond France's borders. International travelers who were looking to get to Paris for the Opening Ceremony, including from London, have had to change or cancel their plans.