“Coordinated” arson attacks disrupt French rail on Olympics opening day
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Passengers wait at Gare de Montparnasse after coordinated attacks caused widespread train cancellations. Photo: Javier Mostacero Carrera/Getty Images
PARIS — France's high-speed rail networks have been disrupted by what authorities labeled "coordinated" attacks, including arson, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
Why it matters: The attacks have stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers. They come as organizers and French officials try to secure Paris as much as possible while still conducting an ambitious opening ceremony along the Seine River, rather than in a stadium.
Driving the news: "The consequences on the rail network are massive and serious," French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said, expressing sympathy for those affected and the French families who had planned to travel for vacation.
- "Our intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts."
- The president of the French state rail company said the fires affected "a huge number" of cables that carry safety information to train drivers. "We have to repair them one-by-one, it's a manual operation requiring hundreds of workers," he said, per AFP.
- As news of the attacks was emerging, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said "we have full confidence in the French authorities."
The latest: Teams were on site to begin repairs on Friday, SNCF said.
- "This situation should last at least all weekend while repairs are being carried out," the railway said.
- Services partially resumed by Friday afternoon, CNN reported.
The big picture: While no perpetrator has been identified, the attack highlights the many points of vulnerability for a country scarred by recent terror attacks.
- Some events like soccer and basketball are taking place across the country, not just at stadiums in Paris, complicating the security challenge.
- The open air opening ceremony adds to the risk.
On the scene: The areas close to the river, where the opening ceremonies were being held on Friday, require tickets or credentials.
- Several metro stations closest to the activities are closed and a wider area is blocked to vehicles.
- The high-security atmosphere is tangible in central Paris. The famed Avenue Champs-Élysées was lined with armed soldiers on Friday morning.
Go deeper: Summer Olympics in a warming world
Editor's note: Axios' April Rubin contributed reporting.
