PARIS: French authorities are investigating the sabotage of the country’s high-speed rail network, which occurred just hours before the Paris Olympic Games 2024 opening ceremony, and suspect that far-left groups may be responsible, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Monday.
On Friday, a series of pre-dawn attacks targeted signal substations and critical cables across the high-speed rail network, leading to widespread travel disruptions. The sabotage was executed at several key points, severely impacting train services and causing chaos for thousands of travelers.
Minister Darmanin said that the attack’s characteristics are consistent with the tactics of far-left groups. “We have identified the profiles of several people,” Darmanin told France 2 TV, adding that the sabotage could be linked to these groups, which have increasingly been scrutinized by security agencies.
Recent years have seen a rise in attacks by militants in France, but there is growing concern over far-left groups. These factions, often opposed to the state and capitalist systems, have gained prominence, particularly following political unrest.
According to former domestic intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner, who now heads the foreign intelligence agency DGSE, the 2023 pension reforms proposed by President Emmanuel Macron played a role in driving recruits to these far-left movements. These groups have been noted for their violent clandestine actions, including arson and vandalism.
A 2023 Europol report highlighted that left-wing and anarchist groups frequently target critical infrastructure such as communication equipment and government facilities, typically using arson and improvised explosive devices. This recent sabotage fits the pattern outlined by the European police agency.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete confirmed on RTL radio that train services across the country were restored by early Monday morning after intensive repair work over the weekend. The attacks had disrupted travel for around 800,000 people, and the financial impact on the state-owned rail operator SNCF is expected to be substantial.
