PARIS: France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin on Saturday said that it is still too early to determine whether foreign actors were involved in a series of sabotage attacks targeting the country’s high-speed rail network. The disruptions, which occurred on the opening day of the Paris 2024 Olympics, have led to significant travel disruptions across France.
The attacks, which took place in the early hours of Friday, damaged signal stations and cables along key high-speed rail routes connecting Paris to cities such as Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. A planned attack on the Paris-Marseille line was reportedly thwarted. The sabotage caused major travel chaos, with an estimated 100,000 people missing their trains and another 150,000 facing delays.
Darmanin, speaking to France 2 television, acknowledged the severity of the situation but emphasized that determining the perpetrators is still an ongoing process. “Who is responsible? Either it’s from within, or it’s been ordered from abroad, it’s too early to say,” Darmanin said. He assured the public that investigations are progressing and promised that authorities would soon have clearer answers.
Initial suspicions have focused on leftist militants or environmental activists due to the nature of the attacks, according to two security sources. However, as of now, no concrete evidence has emerged linking these groups to the sabotage.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete and SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou reassured the public that rail services are expected to return to normal by Monday. Vergriete highlighted that despite the disruptions, transport plans for Olympic teams will remain unaffected. “There will still be disruptions tomorrow,” Vergriete said. “From Monday, there is no need to worry.”
The sabotage occurred just as Paris was gearing up for the Olympic Games, which has heightened security and scrutiny.
