Railway Sabotage in France Disrupts Travel Plans
Railway workers in France hurried to complete delicate repair work on Saturday following an act of sabotage by arsonists that affected three high-speed train lines. The disruptions, which impacted over a million weekend travelers, are expected to persist throughout the weekend but have started to alleviate.
Impact on Paris Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
The sabotage occurred just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Summer Olympics on Friday, causing chaos. Despite the sabotage, the ceremony proceeded smoothly along the Seine River amid heavy rain. French security officials were relieved that the event went off without major issues.
Gérald Darmanin, France’s interior minister, expressed his joy, stating:
“WE DID IT! After four years of intense work to prepare for the world’s biggest sport event, we have never been prouder of our security forces.”
Investigation and Response
The French authorities have provided minimal information regarding the perpetrators or their motives behind the railway sabotage. No arrests have been made, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The attacks targeted three distinct locations on France’s extensive railway network at approximately 4 a.m. on Friday:
- Courtalain: Located southwest of Paris.
- Pagny-sur-Moselle: Positioned to the east.
- Croisilles: Situated to the north.
All three locations are over 60 miles away from the French capital, contributing to the widespread disruption caused by the sabotage.
