By V. E. K. Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Coordinated Arson Attacks Cause Major Disruptions to Train Services
A man has been arrested in connection with a series of suspected arson attacks that caused significant disruptions to French railway services over the weekend. These attacks targeted key cabling systems on several major routes, resulting in widespread cancellations and delays.
The national rail company, SNCF, reported that three out of ten high speed trains were canceled on Saturday, with remaining services experiencing delays of up to two hours on major lines running in and out of Paris. Eurostar passengers were also affected, with a quarter of international trains canceled, coinciding with the opening weekend of the Olympic Games.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced that security forces are actively searching for additional suspects responsible for the vandalism, which paralyzed the rail network on Friday. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The coordinated acts of vandalism involved setting fire to specialized fiber optic cables at junctions on the North, Brittany, and South West lines, which are crucial for the safe operation of the rail network. Government officials described the operation as well prepared and organized by a single entity. Rail workers were able to prevent an attempt to destroy safety equipment on a fourth line.
A spokesperson for the rail network stated on Saturday morning, "At this stage, traffic will remain disrupted on Sunday on the North axis and should improve on the Atlantic axis for weekend returns." SNCF estimated that approximately 20,000 passengers were affected by the disruptions.
