France train lines hit by arson attacks just hours before 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony

LONDON -- France's rail network was hit by arson Friday in what authorities are calling a "massive attack to destabilize the railway system," just hours before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony was set to take place.

Most train lines were running with delays after the fires and at least 800,000 people have been affected, according to a statement from France's rail network, SNCF.

Authorities have not called it a terror attack.

The fires started to be reported at 4 a.m. local time in "acts of sabotage," SNCF said. Trackside signal boxes were set on fire and cables on the lines had been cut, which caused major disruptions in the north and east of France, according to SNCF.

"Coordinated malicious acts targeted several TGV lines last night and will seriously disrupt traffic until this weekend," Patrice Vergriete, France's transport minister, said on social media. "I strongly condemn these criminal actions which will compromise the departures on vacation of many French people."

France's high-speed rail lines specifically seemed to be the intended target, officials said Friday morning, as fires were set along three lines while a fourth fire on another line was stopped.

SNCF said it would take all weekend to repair. Eurostar has already been advising passengers to postpone their trips to Paris.

Some 40 railway police teams and 50 drones have been mobilized to monitor the rail network, along with 1,000 maintenance workers, SNCF said.

The disruption began just hours before the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games were set to take place in Paris.

SNCF said transportation for all the teams as well as accredited persons for the Olympic Games will be provided.

"Early this morning, acts of sabotage were carried out in a planned and coordinated manner on SNCF installations," said French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. "The consequences for the rail network are massive and serious. I express my gratitude to our firefighters who intervened on the affected sites and to the SNCF agents who will carry out the necessary work to restore the network."

"My thoughts are with all the French people, all the families, who were preparing to go on holiday. I share their anger and salute their patience, their understanding and the civic-mindedness they demonstrate," Attal continued. "Our intelligence services and our law enforcement are mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts."