Arsonists have carried out attacks on France's high-speed train network causing major travel disruption ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
French railway operator SNCF said fires had been set at installations along the lines connecting the capital with cities such as Lille, Bordeaux and Strasbourg.
It said the attack was aimed at "paralyzing the high-speed line network" and saw a large number of trains diverted or cancelled.
"Affected travellers will be contacted by email or SMS. We ask all travelers who can to postpone their trip and not to go to the station," the company said.
It added that all tickets for the disrupted journeys are exchangeable and refundable.
⚠️Suite à cette attaque massive visant à paralyser le réseau des lignes à grande vitesse, un grand nombre de trains sont détournés ou supprimés. Les voyageurs concernés seront contactés par mail ou SMS. Nous demandons à tous les voyageurs qui le peuvent de reporter leur voyage et… https://t.co/yt5cCtHSqW
— SNCF Voyageurs (@SNCFVoyageurs) July 26, 2024
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera condemned the vandalism, which she referred to as "a sort of coordinated sabotage".
She said: "It's completely appalling. To target the games is to target France."
"It will disrupt this day and probably this weekend as well."
The country's Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said he "firmly condemns these criminal incidents" and that SNCF is working to restore services.
Des actes de malveillance coordonnés ont visé cette nuit plusieurs lignes TGV et perturberont fortement le trafic jusqu’à ce week-end. Je condamne fermement ces agissements criminels qui vont compromettre les départs en vacances de nombreux Français. Un grand merci aux équipes de…
— Patrice Vergriete (@P_Vergriete) July 26, 2024
SNCF said in a statement: "Last night, the SNCF was victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed lines.
"Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations."
Eurostar services between Paris and London were also being affected, with several trains cancelled and journey times increased by 90 minutes.
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics begins tonight along the River Seine - the first time it has been held outside a stadium.
Additional reporting: IRN
