In a developing story, France’s high-speed TGV rail network has been disrupted by multiple arson attacks, causing the cancellation of many routes for at least the entire weekend. The attacks targeted installations along lines connecting Paris with the west, north, and east of the country, as well as trains to Belgium and London under the English Channel. The disruption comes on the day of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, with stringent security measures in place due to the attacks.
Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reported from Paris, emphasizing the unprecedented security operation underway, with 45,000 security personnel patrolling the city. The attacks were described as coordinated acts of sabotage that are under investigation.
The tense geopolitical backdrop against which the Paris Olympics is taking place was highlighted, with French President Macron’s call for an ‘Olympic truce’ not being realized due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. There were also accusations of double standards regarding the participation of Russian, Belarusian, and Israeli athletes in the games.
Government officials denounced the attacks, with Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera calling them “completely appalling” and stating that targeting the games was targeting France itself. SNCF urged passengers to postpone their trips and stay away from train stations, as many families were planning to travel for summer vacation over the weekend. Investigations into the arson attacks are ongoing to determine the motives and potential connections to the international sporting event.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com