Passengers seen at Paris train stations as a 'massive arson attack' brings chaos to the rail network, hours before thousands arrive for the Olympic opening ceremony. The 'coordinated sabotage' was allegedly intended to 'paralyse' the train system.
French intelligence services are scrambling to determine sabotage perpetrators. Paris Olympics 2024 LIVE: Chaos as arson attack hits Paris rail networkFrench intelligence is looking into far-left or environmentalist protesters being behind the railway chaos in France , an insider has claimed, ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony tonight.
France's intelligence services and police have been scrambling to determine the perpetrators of the sabotage, with no claim of responsibility having yet been made and French authorities so far refusing to officially name any suspects. Passengers inside Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean station after threats against France's high-speed TGV network, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremonyFrench President Emmanuel Macron is pictured this morning at the Elysee palace in Paris
Security analyst Alex Kokcharov told MailOnline: 'Russia has both the intent and capability to attempt sabotage acts in Europe, especially in France. Russian intent is largely linked to the fact that Russia was not invited to the Olympic games.' France's former ambassador to Moscow, Jean de Gliniasty, said Russia could very well be behind the sabotage, but also pointed to the possibility of far-left protesters being to blame.
It was warned back in April that Moscow has made 'thousands' of attempts to interfere with European rail networks in a campaign to destabilise the EU and sabotage infrastructure. The Kremlin fumed today that it had read 'curious information' in the media about the arrest of a Russian national, and demanded an explanation from French authorities.
Macron met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog today, as Israel's foreign minister claimed Iran was behind the attack on French rail infrastructure Read More Is French train arson Putin's new terror tactic? The Gare du Nord – the main Eurostar station in Paris – was hit by attacks on its rail network overnight, according to a spokesman for SNCF, France's rail operator.
He pointed to the arrest of a suspected IED plotter, a Russian-Ukrainian man, on June 3 near Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport as revealing 'possible tactics of Russian state-directed terrorism risks' on the continent. Hours before the grand opening ceremony, travelers are stranded at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris
They reported that the hackers described it as a training exercise, according to Business Standard, and warned that 'judging by the consistency of the group's statements, they intend to carry out large-scale attacks during the Summer Olympics in Paris.' Officials are today saying that there have been a series of 'coordinated malicious acts' which have affected 'numerous stations', with services across France cancelled or delayed.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said the 'criminal actions will compromise the holiday departures of many French people.' TGV Inoui and Ouigo trains were diverted to conventional lines, causing cancellations and far longer journey times. The French Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement: 'A temporary prohibited area is created to ensure the implementation of the special air security arrangements as part of the protection of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games 2024.'
The priority is to protect some 80,000 competitors as they progress down the River Seine in dozens of barges, in front of some 350,000 spectators, and a TV audience of more than a billion. France has been on high alert over the past few weeks as preparations to host the Olympics hit the final stretch
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