On May 8, just hours before the highly anticipated opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the French railway company SNCF faced a coordinated series of sabotage attacks aimed at crippling its high-speed train network. This malicious act affected approximately 800,000 passengers, causing significant disruptions across multiple train lines.
The SNCF confirmed that the attacks targeted the Atlantic, North, and East high-speed lines, leading to severe delays and cancellations. The French Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, condemned the attacks as a 'scandalous criminal act' and assured that security forces were mobilized to identify and apprehend those responsible.
These incidents, described as a 'massive attack' by the SNCF, included acts of voluntary fires set to damage railway facilities. While the Southeast high-speed line remained largely unaffected, the Northern axis near Arras, the Eastern axis in Moselle, and the Atlantic axis in Eure-et-Loir experienced significant disruptions, with reports indicating that only one train in two was operating on the affected routes.
Travelers at major stations, such as Montparnasse in Paris, expressed their concern and frustration as they awaited updates on their journeys. The SNCF advised passengers to postpone their trips and offered options for ticket exchanges or refunds. The attacks have sparked outrage, particularly as they coincide with a global celebration of athletic excellence at the Olympic Games, an event that many have eagerly anticipated.
