French railways hit by coordinated arson attacks, travellers stranded ahead of Olympics

Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Thousands of travellers attempting to reach Paris ahead of the Olympic Games have been left stranded following a series of coordinated arson attacks on the country’s railways, French officials report.

The SNCF, France’s high-speed train network organizer, revealed that the "malicious acts" occurred overnight on Thursday, describing them as a planned "massive attack" aimed at crippling public transportation just hours before the Games' Opening Ceremony in Paris on Friday.

Authorities have yet to identify any suspects, though the public prosecutor's office has launched an investigation. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, but images from train stations across the country show extensive delays and backups as people scramble to reach Paris for the start of the Games.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal expressed little hope for a quick resolution, stating on X, "The consequences on the rail network are massive and serious."

In the wake of the attacks, the SNCF is urging passengers to postpone their trips as repairs to the damaged infrastructure are expected to be time-consuming and challenging.

Despite the disruption, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo assured reporters that the Opening Ceremony would proceed as planned at the Seine River.