‘Malicious acts’ on French rail lines disrupt traffic ahead of Olympics

PARIS — High-speed trains were hit by several “malicious acts” across France on Friday, severely disrupting traffic on the day of the high-risk opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, according to SNCF.

Travel to and from London across the Channel, to neighbouring Belgium and across western, northern and eastern France was affected by what SNCF called a series of coordinated incidents overnight.

Government officials denounced the incidents hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which are being held across France, although there was no immediate sign of a link to the Games.

National police said authorities were investigating what happened. French media reported a major fire on a busy western road.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said in a message on X that he “strongly condemns these criminal incidents” and that the SNCF is working to restore traffic.

Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera said authorities were working to “assess the impact on travelers, athletes and ensure the transport of all delegations to the competition sites” of the Olympics. Speaking on BFM TV, she said: “Playing against the Games is playing against France, against your own camp, against your country.” She did not identify the perpetrators of these acts of vandalism.

Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, speaking on France Info radio, said he would send police reinforcements to overcrowded train stations linked to the SNCF incidents.

Passengers at London’s St Pancras station were warned that they could expect a delay of around an hour on their Eurostar journey. Announcements in the departure hall at the international terminus informed Paris-bound passengers that there was a problem with overhead power supplies.