France's train network services return to normal after arson attacks
3 Min Read
Travelers postponed their trips and trains returned to their departure locations due to arson attacks ahead of the Paris Olympics' opening ceremony
-
Passengers gather around the departure and arrival boards at the Gare Montparnasse train station in Paris, undated (AFP)
France's high-speed train network's services returned to normal on Monday following disruptions caused by a series of arson attacks on the operator ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete announced.
"This morning, all trains are running," Vergriete told RTL radio, highlighting that although the attacks affected 800,000 travelers this weekend, "700,000 were able to make their trips" while 100,000 were hit by train cancellations."
In order to tighten security along the 28,000-kilometre high-speed train network after the sabotage attacks, 50 drones, 250 rail security agents, and 1,000 maintenance workers were deployed.
French MP blames far-left French anarchists
The perpetrator and motive for the three arson attacks on important railway points remain unclear, however, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said authorities had "identified a certain number of profiles that could have committed" the acts.
The minister ultimately blamed far-left French anarchists, stating to France 2 that the attacks were "deliberate, very precise, extremely well-targeted," adding, "This is the traditional type of action of the ultra-left."
Based on this assumption, Darmanin speculated whether the perpetrators were manipulated to commit the attacks or if they acted for their self-interests.
A statement signed by "an unexpected delegation" was sent to various news outlets, endorsing the sabotage attacks and condemning the Olympic Games for its "celebration of nationalism" and oppressing people based on nation-states.
The interior minister said that statement resembled a claim, however, cautioning that it may be an opportunistic claim.
French railway sabotage affects 800,000 passengers
Arsonists targeted France's high-speed TGV network in a chain of coordinated attacks this weekend, causing major disruption along the country's busiest railway routes before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
"Last night, the SNCF was victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations," the SNCF, France's state-owned railway company, said in a statement.
Crucial train routes that connected multiple cities to Paris were targeted, including Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west, and Strasbourg in the east.
The railway operator urged travelers to postpone their trips with trains returning to their original departure locations as repairs are underway.
