Despite the significant turmoil caused by the “mass sabotage” of the railway network in France, with the government referring to coordinated sabotage, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is expected to proceed as planned.
The opening ceremony will take place along the Seine River, while the parade will occur with boats transporting thousands of athletes to the center of the French capital. More than 320,000 spectators are expected to attend along the route.
Investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office
The National Judicial Authority for the Fight Against Organized Crime (Junalco) has been assigned to conduct the investigation into the “total damage deliberately caused to SNCF facilities“, the French railway company, as announced by Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau.
The investigation concerns property damage that could harm the fundamental interests of the nation, attacks on an automated data processing system by an organized gang, and conspiracy to commit these crimes and offenses, as clarified in a relevant announcement.
It also involves damage and attempts to cause damage using dangerous means by an organized gang, crimes for which a prison sentence of twenty years and a fine of 150,000 euros could be imposed.
The SNCF “suffered several simultaneous malicious actions this night concerning the LGV (high-speed train lines) Atlantique, Nord and Est“, noted the French railway company. Mainly, there were “arsons” to destroy their facilities, it reported.
So far, there has been no claim of responsibility for the sabotage, and investigations are ongoing, while a large part of the network has been paralyzed impacting the broader chain of services even outside the borders.
“800,000 passengers will be affected”
The SNCF earlier referred to a “massive attack of a magnitude sufficient to cause paralysis” of the high-speed TGV network, which has been “greatly disrupted”.
A large number of services have already been canceled, with the SNCF warning that the situation could drag on for “at least the entire weekend, until the necessary repairs are made”.
Eurostar: Cancels Paris – London services
Approximately “25%” of the train services connecting Paris to London will be canceled today, as well as tomorrow Saturday and Sunday, reported the company Eurostar. “Today Eurostar will cancel 25% of its services. The same will happen on Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th,” stated the group.
In addition to the cancellation of services, “all high-speed trains destined for or originating from Paris are being diverted from the classic line today, Friday, July 26″ and therefore are operating at reduced speed, clarified Eurostar, which “extends the journey time by about an hour and a half”. The company “expects this situation to last until Monday morning”.
Eurostar staff have “been fully mobilized at stations, in call centers, and on trains” to ensure that passengers are well “informed”, said the railway company, clarifying that customers can “cancel” or “modify” their tickets without additional cost.
Mayor of Paris: “It’s sabotage – There will be no impact”
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, assured that the attack on high-speed railway lines “will not impact the ceremony” of the Olympic Games opening tonight, “because it does not affect the transport network” of the Paris area.
“It is sabotage“, stated the mayor in Spanish to reporters, following a meeting with Spanish King Felipe. “What happened is unacceptable, but it will not affect tonight’s ceremony, as there are no repercussions on the transport network of the Île-de-France area,” she added.
With information from CNN, ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ