“Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting several high-speed lines, several high-speed trains are being diverted or cancelled,” train network SNCF said in a statement on July 26.
Luc Auffret/Anadolu via Getty
France’s high-speed rail network severely disrupted by ‘coordinated malicious acts’
-
France’s high-speed network was hit by ‘malicious’ attacks on Friday morning, July 26
-
The incident occurred hours before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris was due to take place
-
According to several media outlets, the vandalism included arson
France’s high-speed network has been hit by a ‘malicious’ attack ahead of the 2024 disaster. Olympics opening ceremony in Paris.
On Friday, July 26, the day the games are about to beginSNCF’s train network was hit by “coordinated acts of malice” in the country, SNCF Voyageurs said in a statement shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Several high-speed lines have been affected, the statement said, with several high-speed trains diverted or cancelled.
“Our teams are fully mobilised at stations, in call centres and on board to ensure that all passengers are informed and can reach their destination,” the company assured.
DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty
SNCF employees and French police officers inspect the scene of a suspected attack on the high-speed rail network in Croiselles, northern France, on July 26, 2024
According to the Associated Press, NBC News And BBC newsthe acts of vandalism also include arson.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal wrote on X“Early this morning, sabotage actions were carried out in a prepared and coordinated manner on SNCF installations.”
“The consequences for the rail network are enormous and serious,” he added in the message, translated from French.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to our firefighters who arrived on the scene and to the SNCF agents who will carry out the necessary work to restore the network,” Attal said, adding that he shares the “anger” of the French as some families prepare to “go on holiday.”
“Our intelligence and law enforcement agencies are being mobilized to track down and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts,” he concluded.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword puzzle is here! How fast can you solve it? Play now!
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete also commented on the “coordinated malicious acts” which “will seriously disrupt traffic until this weekend” on X.
“I strongly condemn these criminal actions, which are endangering the holidays of many French people. A big thank you to the #SNCF teams on the bridge for restoring traffic conditions as quickly as possible,” Vergriete said in a statement translated from French.
According to AP, he added: “Everything indicates that these are criminal fires.” According to the news agency, no injuries have been reported at this time.
THIBAUD MORITZ/AFP via Getty
Gare Montparnasse train station in Paris on July 26, 2024
Related: Snoop Dogg carries Olympic torch during final leg of opening ceremony in Paris
According to AP, two German show jumping athletes — Philipp Weishaupt and Christian Kukuk — were on the train to Paris for the opening ceremony, but had to turn back when they arrived in Belgium because of the incident, the German news agency reported dpa reported.
SNCF president Jean-Pierre Farrandou said 800,000 people would be affected by the attacks, according to NBC News.
“We are so sorry that we cannot run the trains that the French were expecting. Today the main departure lines are being attacked, an attack on the French,” he said, adding: “The celebration has been spoiled.”
SNCF did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Never miss a story – sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best that PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Eurostar railway company, which operates services between London and Paris, among other places, was also affected.
“Due to coordinated acts of vandalism in France affecting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille, all high-speed trains travelling to and from Paris today, Friday 26 July, are being diverted via the classic line. This will increase journey times by around an hour and a half. Several trains have been cancelled. Eurostar’s teams are fully mobilised in stations, call centres and on board to assist our passengers and ensure they are fully informed,” the company said in a statement on its website website.
The attacks came as thousands of athletes and celebrities prepared to sail down the Seine in custom-made floats to kick off the 2024 Games on Friday. Live coverage of the opening ceremony begins at 12 p.m. ET on Friday, with the event kicking off at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic candidates, visit people.com to watch the ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. And sign up for Going for Gold, our Olympic newsletter, to get the biggest stories from the Games delivered straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which begin July 26, on NBC and Peacock.
For more People news, be sure to: Sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article at People.
