PARIS (Diya TV) – French authorities suspect far-left extremists are behind the sabotage of the SNCF rail network that coincided with the Olympic Games opening ceremony last week. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin revealed on Monday that profiles of several individuals had been identified in connection with the attacks.
“These deliberate, precise, and targeted attacks bear the hallmarks of the ultra-left,” Darmanin told France 2 TV. While he remained cautious about confirming the suspects’ affiliations, he acknowledged their potential ties to far-left movements. Darmanin also hinted that these individuals might have acted independently or under manipulation.
A statement supporting the sabotage, sent by “an unexpected delegation,” criticized the Olympics as a “celebration of nationalism” and oppression by nation-states. Although Darmanin noted this statement as a possible claim of responsibility, he warned it could be opportunistic.
Authorities arrested an ultra-left activist at an SNCF site in northern France. The man, found with access keys, tools, and ultra-left literature, was detained for questioning in Rouen.
The pre-dawn attacks on signal substations and cables caused travel chaos, affecting 800,000 people, including 100,000 whose trains were canceled. Despite the disruption, all trains were running by Monday morning after intensive repair work over the weekend, according to Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete.
In a separate incident, acts of vandalism hit France’s telecoms network, causing isolated outages. Junior Minister for Digital Matters Marina Ferrari condemned the acts and thanked digital teams for quickly restoring services. Six administrative departments experienced issues, but Olympic events in Paris were not affected.
The French police have launched a second criminal probe into the fiber optic cable incidents. Authorities suspect the perpetrators intended to harm the nation’s fundamental interests. The attacks, described as well-planned and executed by the same organization, targeted multiple high-speed TGV lines and disrupted services between Paris and several major cities.
Despite these disruptions, Olympic transport for teams and accredited personnel continued as planned. SNCF worked tirelessly to restore services, with delays and cancellations gradually decreasing.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete confirmed heightened security measures, including 250 personnel, 50 surveillance drones, and police helicopters patrolling the network. While the investigation continues, authorities have yet to identify the perpetrators or their motivations.
SNCF urged passengers to stay informed about their train schedules and promised reimbursements for affected travelers. The company expects ongoing disruptions but aims to minimize the impact on travelers heading to the Olympics and those starting their summer holidays.
