Arson Attacks Disrupt Rail Services Across Europe on Olympic Games Opening Day

PARIS — Widespread arson attacks on French railways on Friday have led to significant disruptions in train traffic across Europe, coinciding with the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris.

According to Philippines News Agency, the attacks targeted installations crucial to the TGV high-speed train network on the Atlantic, northern, and eastern routes, affecting approximately 800,000 passengers. The disruptions forced the diversion of some trains and the cancellation of many others, with international routes through the English Channel and to neighboring Belgium also impacted. Eurostar reported cancellations of 25% of its services, and Dutch railway operator NS noted substantial delays for trains from the Netherlands to Paris.

The chaos extended to London, where Eurostar services from St. Pancras station to Paris Gare du Nord experienced cancellations and delays. The situation prompted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to alter his travel arrangements to Paris, opting for a flight rather than a train, as confirmed by Downing Street.

Despite these disruptions, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, quoted by French media BFMTV, assured that the Paris region’s transport network remained unaffected, allowing the Olympic Games opening ceremony to proceed without incident. The outgoing minister for transport, Patrice Vergriete, emphasized the deliberate nature of these disruptions, stating, “All the evidence indicates that these acts were deliberate.” In response, outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal remarked on the full mobilization of intelligence services and law enforcement to identify and apprehend those responsible for these criminal acts.

By Friday afternoon, one-third of the trains affected by the attacks had returned to operational status.