The French authorities are poised to deal with further attacks after the country’s high-speed national rail network was “paralysed” by saboteurs ahead of this evening’s opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
Patrice Vergriete, acting transport minister, said the authorities were “preparing themselves” for other potential attacks after fires broke out at three points along France’s rail network, in what he called an “outrageous criminal act”.
When asked whether France should fear “other attacks,” Mr Vergriete told TF1: “We are preparing for [other attacks]. We had no specific alert before these planned acts of malice and sabotage. Today we are on alert, so obviously we have mobilised all security forces, as well as drones, so today we have greatly increased our vigilance.”
Passengers wait at Gare de Montparnasse after damage to high-speed rail lines caused delays and cancellations. (Photo by Javier Mostacero Carrera/Getty Images)Credit: Getty Images
Signals along the tracks were set on fire, and cables cut and set alight, in a series of “co-ordinated” strikes that brought train services around the capital to a standstill, sources close to the investigation said.
Meanwhile, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has assured us the team hasn’t at this stage been affected by the dramas.
The Telegraph