An investigation into suspected acts of sabotage targeting France’s high-speed TGV rail network has begun. The disruptions came hours before the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics on Friday evening.
National railway operator SNCF said on Friday that fires were set overnight at three railway nodes along routes connecting Paris to the country’s northern and eastern regions.
Eurostar, a high-speed train network linking the European continent and Britain, is also affected and many services have been canceled.
The operator says “this situation is expected to last at least through the weekend while repairs are carried out.”
In a social media post, SNCF said a massive attack aimed at paralyzing the high-speed rail network has led to the cancellation of many train services. It asks all passengers to postpone their journeys and not to go to stations.
The Olympic opening ceremony is due to be held in Paris on Friday evening.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera condemned the incident in an interview with a local broadcaster. She said it negatively affects the Olympics that France has for years been preparing for.
SNCF Chief Executive Jean-Pierre Farandou told reporters that the actions were committed at multiple locations almost simultaneously and that it has been confirmed that the attackers used vehicles to flee the scenes.
He said the operator has no information on the people responsible for the attacks, adding that the police investigation is ongoing.
Many people have gone to main railway stations in Paris to leave for their summer holidays.
The railway operator says the disruptions will affect 250,000 people on Friday alone, and 800,000 people over the weekend.