😱 French Railways Sabotaged Before Paris Olympics! 🚄🔥

French rail services faced severe disruption due to coordinated acts of sabotage ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. On Friday, high-speed train lines were targeted in what French authorities describe as an "attack on France," involving arson and other malicious acts.

The French state railway company, SNCF, announced that numerous trains were diverted or canceled, urging travelers to delay their trips and avoid stations. Although some services partially resumed by Friday afternoon, significant disruptions continued.

No group has claimed responsibility for the sabotage, but the scale and precision suggest these were not random acts of vandalism. French intelligence is fully engaged in the investigation, and while far-left groups have used similar tactics previously, there's no evidence linking them to these incidents.

The affected lines include the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed routes, with one attempted act of sabotage foiled in the east. SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou reported that cables essential for train driver safety were tampered with and set on fire. The attackers likely possessed precise insider information, according to CGT rail union leader Axel Persson.

The Paris prosecutor's office has launched an investigation, detailing charges related to organized crime and state property damage. Penalties for these crimes could reach 20 years in prison and fines up to €300,000 ($325,000). Outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal noted no arrests had been made yet.

Emergency repairs were underway, with most trains on the eastern network delayed by about an hour. Only a third of Atlantic line trains were operational, affecting an estimated 250,000 travelers on Friday and up to 800,000 over the weekend.

Travelers at Paris' Gare du Nord station experienced significant inconvenience, with many stranded and waiting for updates. Francoise, an 80-year-old trying to return home to La Rochelle after medical treatment in Paris, exemplified the widespread disruption's impact on passengers.

#FrenchRailDisruption #ParisOlympics2024 #TrainSabotageFrance #SNCFTrainDelays #ParisTravelChaos #FrenchTrainSabotage #OlympicTravelDisruptions #FranceHighSpeedTrains #ParisRailAttack #OlympicsOpeningCeremony