France’s high-speed railway network, SNCF, is working to repair fire damage caused by arsonists following attacks that disrupted train travel into Paris for around 800,000 people across Europe. The fires, reported before dawn on Friday, targeted remote locations, cutting off rail routes into the city from all directions. The attacks focused on critical signalling cables in pipes along the TGV system, causing widespread disruptions with no reported injuries.
In response, SNCF has increased security across the network, deploying both human and technical resources to prevent further incidents. While services have gradually improved, disruptions are still expected on some lines. French government ministers have condemned the acts of vandalism, with Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete emphasizing the impact on holiday travel and thanking SNCF teams for their efforts to restore normal traffic conditions.
Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, expressed firm condemnation for the attacks, stating that they undermine not only the games but also France itself. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has expressed hope for swift arrests of those responsible, with SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou confirming that an investigation is underway. Authorities are conducting police checks and examining forensic evidence to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable for the coordinated attack on the French network.
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