France's High-Speed Rail Network Hit By 'Malicious Acts' Hours Before Olympics Begin

France's high-speed rail network has been severely impacted by "malicious acts," including arson attacks, which have disrupted the transport system, according to the national train operator SNCF.

This disruption comes just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, reported AFP.

A source close to the investigation informed AFP that the attacks were coordinated acts of "sabotage," describing them as a "massive attack on a large scale to paralyse the TGV network."

SNCF confirmed that several simultaneous malicious acts occurred overnight, affecting its Atlantic, northern, and eastern lines.

"Arson attacks were started to damage our facilities," the operator said, noting that traffic on the affected lines is "heavily disrupted" and will continue to be so through the weekend as repairs are carried out.

Many train routes will be canceled, and while trains are being diverted, significant delays are expected.

The southeastern line was spared as "a malicious act was foiled." SNCF has advised passengers to postpone their trips and avoid train stations.

The attacks coincide with heightened security in Paris for the Summer Olympics, which is under tight scrutiny with 300,000 spectators and numerous VIPs expected. The opening ceremony on Friday evening will feature up to 7,500 competitors traveling down a six-kilometre stretch of the Seine on 85 boats, marking the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside a main athletics stadium-a decision made amidst France's highest alert level for terror attacks.

At Montparnasse train station, passengers faced delays ranging from 30 minutes to almost two hours.

"Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29," read one of the departure hall signs.

Jocelyn, a 27-year-old student who had planned to travel to Bretagne, expressed her frustration - "We arrived around 7:00 am but we were told that we might not be able to leave before Monday. We expected it to be a bit chaotic in Paris with the opening ceremony scheduled for this evening, but we didn't think it could be this bad."