Massive attack before the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris. A series of arson attacks paralyzed the railway
Several hours before the official opening of the Olympic Games in Paris, France is struggling with the effects of a serious attack on its high-speed railways.
A historic evening awaits us. On Friday, July 26 at 8 p.m. the Olympic Games in Paris will officially begin. For the first time, the Olympic opening ceremony will be held outside the stadium. 115 boats carrying delegations of athletes will sail down the Seine, and the main ceremonies will take place under the Eiffel Tower.
The organizers estimate that the event could be attended by several hundred thousand fans. According to unofficial reports, the opening will feature performances by, among others, Lady Gaga and Celine Dion. If this information is confirmed, it will be the Canadian artist’s first public appearance since 2022, when she was diagnosed with rigidity syndrome.
Paris 2024. Attack before the Olympics opens. TGV trains in the crosshairs
Such a large event has raised serious security concerns. Protecting the ceremony will be a real challenge for French services. Emmanuel Macron assured that the organizers are prepared for any scenario.
Meanwhile – as reported by Reuters – Several hours before the opening of the games, a powerful attack occurred in France. The TGV high-speed train has been targeted. French rail operator SNCF said it had been “victimized by an attack aimed at paralyzing passenger traffic” to southeastern France. Details of the attacks were not disclosed, but unofficial reports suggest a series of arson attacks on the tracks damaged installations.
Paris 2024. Huge inconvenience for passengers
On many routes traffic was seriously hampered. Some trains were rerouted to other tracks, but some connections had to be canceled altogether. The problems could affect up to 800 thousand passengers. The greatest chaos took place at the Montparnasse station in Paris. Most trains are not running or starts with a delay of more than two hours.
Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera condemned the vandalism. “It’s outrageous. Attacking the games is attacking our entire country,” she said. According to unofficial reports from SNCF, rail disruptions could last all weekend.
