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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2024}}{{Infobox civilian attack
{{Use British English|date=July 2024}}{{Infobox civilian attack
| location = [[LGV Atlantique]]<hr>[[LGV Nord]]<hr>[[LGV Est]]<hr>[[LGV Sud-Est]]
| location = LGV Atlantique<br>LGV Nord<br>LGV Est<br>LGV Sud-Est
| date = 26 July 2024
| date = 26 July 2024
| time-begin = 01:00 AM<ref name="AttackTime">{{cite news|last1=Becq|first1=Coralie|title="Massive attack" on the SNCF network|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/marseille/attaque-sur-le-reseau-sncf-un-acte-dejoue-sur-l-axe-sud-est-3010247.html|access-date=26 July 2024|work=france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr|date=26 July 2024|archive-date=27 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105058/https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/marseille/attaque-sur-le-reseau-sncf-un-acte-dejoue-sur-l-axe-sud-est-3010247.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| time-begin = 01:00 AM<ref name="AttackTime">{{cite news|last1=Becq|first1=Coralie|title="Attaque massive" sur le réseau SNCF : un acte malveillant déjoué sur l'axe Sud-Est|trans-title="Massive attack" on the SNCF network|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/marseille/attaque-sur-le-reseau-sncf-un-acte-dejoue-sur-l-axe-sud-est-3010247.html|access-date=2024-07-26 |website=[[France 3 Provence-Alpes|France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]]|date=2024-07-26|archive-date=27 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105058/https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/marseille/attaque-sur-le-reseau-sncf-un-acte-dejoue-sur-l-axe-sud-est-3010247.html|url-status=live|language=fr}}</ref>
| time-end = 05:30 AM<ref name="AttackTime"/>
| time-end = 05:30 AM<ref name="AttackTime"/>
| timezone = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] ([[UTC+02:00]])
| timezone = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] ([[UTC+02:00]])
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| fatalities = None<ref name="nytimeswwk">{{cite news |last1=Chutel |first1=Lynsey |title=What We Know About the Attacks on France's Rail Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/world/europe/frances-rail-network-attacks-paris-olympics.html |access-date=26 July 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=26 July 2024 |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727005456/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/world/europe/frances-rail-network-attacks-paris-olympics.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| fatalities = None<ref name="nytimeswwk">{{cite news |last1=Chutel |first1=Lynsey |title=What We Know About the Attacks on France's Rail Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/world/europe/frances-rail-network-attacks-paris-olympics.html |access-date=26 July 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=26 July 2024 |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727005456/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/world/europe/frances-rail-network-attacks-paris-olympics.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| injuries = None<ref name="nytimeswwk"/>
| injuries = None<ref name="nytimeswwk"/>
| victims =
| victims =
| perpetrators = Unknown
| perpetrators = Unknown
| motive =
| motive =
}}
}}
On 26 July 2024, the day of the [[2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] of the [[2024 Summer Olympics]], a series of [[arson]] attacks damaged the [[LGV Atlantique]], [[LGV Nord|Nord]], and [[LGV Est|Est]] lines of the [[High-speed rail in France|French high-speed railway system]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/26/france-rail-disruptions-scnf-olympics/ |title=Arson disrupts France's high-speed trains hours before Olympics, officials say |date=26 July 2024 |last1=Bisset |first1=Victoria |last2=Noack |first2=Rick |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref> International and domestic rail services were widely disrupted,<ref name="r1"/> with around 800,000 passengers affected.<ref name=":0"/> There was also an attempted attack on [[LGV Sud-Est]] line, though it was interrupted by TGV maintenance workers who happened to be on site.<ref name=France24>{{cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title='Criminal' attack on France's high-speed train network |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240726-france-s-high-speed-train-network-paralysed-by-malicious-acts |accessdate=26 July 2024 |work=France24}}</ref>
On 26 July 2024, the day of the [[2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] of the [[2024 Summer Olympics]], a series of [[arson]] attacks damaged the [[LGV Atlantique]], [[LGV Nord|Nord]], and [[LGV Est|Est]] lines of the [[High-speed rail in France|French high-speed railway system]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/26/france-rail-disruptions-scnf-olympics/ |title=Arson disrupts France's high-speed trains hours before Olympics, officials say |date=26 July 2024 |last1=Bisset |first1=Victoria |last2=Noack |first2=Rick |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref> International and domestic rail services were widely disrupted,<ref name="r1"/> with around 800,000 passengers affected.<ref name=":0"/> There was also an attempted attack on [[LGV Sud-Est]] line, though it was interrupted by TGV maintenance workers who happened to be on site.<ref name=France24>{{cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title='Criminal' attack on France's high-speed train network |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240726-france-s-high-speed-train-network-paralysed-by-malicious-acts |access-date=26 July 2024 |work=France24}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
{{Main|Transportation during the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics}}
{{Main|Transportation during the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics}}


A previous attack was avoided on 8 May during the arrival of the [[Olympic flame]] in [[Marseille]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=INFO BFMTV. "Sabotage" SNCF: un engin incendiaire déjà retrouvé sur la LGV Sud-Est lors du passage de la flamme à Marseille |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/marseille/info-bfmtv-sabotage-sncf-un-engin-incendiaire-deja-retrouve-sur-la-lgv-sud-est-lors-du-passage-de-la-flamme-a-marseille_AP-202407260374.html |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=BFMTV |language=fr}}</ref> when police found four incendiary devices on the [[LGV Méditerranée]] line between [[Aix-en-Provence|Aix]] and Marseille.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title="Attaque massive" sur le réseau SNCF : un acte malveillant déjoué sur l'axe Sud-Est |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/marseille/attaque-sur-le-reseau-sncf-un-acte-dejoue-sur-l-axe-sud-est-3010247.html |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |language=fr-FR |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105058/https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/marseille/attaque-sur-le-reseau-sncf-un-acte-dejoue-sur-l-axe-sud-est-3010247.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
A previous attack was avoided on 8 May during the arrival of the [[Olympic flame]] in [[Marseille]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=INFO BFMTV. "Sabotage" SNCF: un engin incendiaire déjà retrouvé sur la LGV Sud-Est lors du passage de la flamme à Marseille |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/marseille/info-bfmtv-sabotage-sncf-un-engin-incendiaire-deja-retrouve-sur-la-lgv-sud-est-lors-du-passage-de-la-flamme-a-marseille_AP-202407260374.html |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=BFMTV |language=fr}}</ref> when police found four incendiary devices on the [[LGV Méditerranée]] line between [[Aix-en-Provence|Aix]] and Marseille.<ref name="AttackTime"/>


==Attacks==
==Attacks==
Four signal boxes along the lines connecting Paris with cities such as [[Lille]] in the north, [[Bordeaux]] in the west and [[Strasbourg]] in the east were damaged, while an attack on the LGV Sud-Est line was interrupted.<ref name="France24"/> [[Eurostar]] later confirmed that they had cancelled one in four trains as the arson attacks caused high-speed rail disruption. Apart from international trains, domestic rail services were also widely disrupted.<ref name="r1">{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Jacob |last2=Mata |first2=William |date=2024-07-26 |title=Eurostars cancelled as arson attack sparks travel chaos ahead of Olympics - live |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/france-trains-live-eurostar-olympic-games-arson-paris-opening-ceremony-b1173040.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=The Standard |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727001448/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/france-trains-live-eurostar-olympic-games-arson-paris-opening-ceremony-b1173040.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It is estimated that 800,000 passengers were affected.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/vandals-target-french-rail-network-olympics-opening-ceremony|title=French rail network hit by arson attacks before Olympics opening ceremony|accessdate=26 July 2024|date=26 July 2024|work=The Guardian|archive-date=27 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105059/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/vandals-target-french-rail-network-olympics-opening-ceremony|url-status=live}}</ref>
Four signal boxes along the lines connecting Paris with cities such as [[Lille]] in the north, [[Bordeaux]] in the west and [[Strasbourg]] in the east were damaged, while an attack on the LGV Sud-Est line was interrupted.<ref name="France24"/> [[Eurostar]] later confirmed that they had cancelled one in four trains as the arson attacks caused high-speed rail disruption. Apart from international trains, domestic rail services were also widely disrupted.<ref name="r1">{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Jacob |last2=Mata |first2=William |date=2024-07-26 |title=Eurostars cancelled as arson attack sparks travel chaos ahead of Olympics - live |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/france-trains-live-eurostar-olympic-games-arson-paris-opening-ceremony-b1173040.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=The Standard |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727001448/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/france-trains-live-eurostar-olympic-games-arson-paris-opening-ceremony-b1173040.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It is estimated that 800,000 passengers were affected.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/vandals-target-french-rail-network-olympics-opening-ceremony|title=French rail network hit by arson attacks before Olympics opening ceremony|access-date=26 July 2024|date=26 July 2024|work=The Guardian|archive-date=27 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105059/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/vandals-target-french-rail-network-olympics-opening-ceremony|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Sabotage sites===
===Sabotage sites===
{{location map+|France|float=right|width=320||caption=Locations of the arson attack sites in France<br>(Source: Eurostar<ref name="Sabotage sites"/>)
⚫
* [[LGV Atlantique]]: near [[Arrou]] (neighbouring town of [[Courtalain]])<ref name="Sabotage sites">{{cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=Le trafic de TGV en France commence à reprendre après des perturbations liées à des 'actes de malveillance' |trans-title=TGV traffic in France begins to resume after disruptions linked to 'malicious acts' |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/monde/2024/article/le-trafic-de-tgv-en-france-commence-a-reprendre-apres-des-perturbations-liees-a-des-actes-de-malveillance-28580949.html |accessdate=26 July 2024 |work=RTS |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105100/https://www.rts.ch/info/monde/2024/article/le-trafic-de-tgv-en-france-commence-a-reprendre-apres-des-perturbations-liees-a-des-actes-de-malveillance-28580949.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ({{coord|48|04|49|N|1|08|20|E|format=dms|display=inline}})
|places=
* [[LGV Est|LGV Est Européenne]]: two sites -
{{location map~|France|position=left|label=Site-1|lat= 48.0803 |long=1.1389 |link=[[LGV Atlantique]]| marksize=9}}
⚫
** between the [[Meuse TGV station]] and [[Lamorville]] <ref name="Sabotage sites"/> ({{coord|48|58|42|N|5|17|23|E|format=dms|display=inline}})
{{location map~|France|position=left|label=Site-2|lat= 48.5842 |long=5.1723 |link=[[LGV Est|LGV Est Européenne]]| marksize=9}}
⚫
** near [[Pagny-sur-Moselle]]<ref name="Sabotage sites"/> ({{coord|48|59|02|N|6|01|19|E|format=dms|display=inline}})
{{location map~|France|position=right|label=Site-3|lat= 48.9839 |long=6.0219 |link=[[LGV Est|LGV Est Européenne]]| marksize=9}}
⚫
* [[LGV Nord]]: near [[Croisilles, Pas-de-Calais|Croisilles]]<ref name="Sabotage sites"/> ({{coord|50|17|23|N|2|46|51|E|format=dms|display=inline}})
{{location map~|France|position=right|label=Site-4|lat= 50.2003 |long=2.8808 |link=[[LGV Nord]]| marksize=9}}
* [[LGV Sud-Est]]: near [[Vergigny]], foiled by railway workers.<ref name="Sabotage sites"/> ({{coord|47|57|11|N|3|42|00|E|format=dms|display=inline}})
{{location map~|France|position=right|label=Site-5|lat= 47.9711 |long=3.7200 |link=[[LGV Sud-Est]]| marksize=9}}
}}
⚫
# [[LGV Atlantique]]: near [[Arrou]] (neighbouring town of [[Courtalain]])<ref name="Sabotage sites">{{cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=Le trafic de TGV en France commence à reprendre après des perturbations liées à des 'actes de malveillance' |trans-title=TGV traffic in France begins to resume after disruptions linked to 'malicious acts' |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/monde/2024/article/le-trafic-de-tgv-en-france-commence-a-reprendre-apres-des-perturbations-liees-a-des-actes-de-malveillance-28580949.html |access-date=26 July 2024 |work=RTS |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105100/https://www.rts.ch/info/monde/2024/article/le-trafic-de-tgv-en-france-commence-a-reprendre-apres-des-perturbations-liees-a-des-actes-de-malveillance-28580949.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
⚫
# [[LGV Est|LGV Est Européenne]]: between the [[Meuse TGV station]] and [[Lamorville]]<ref name="Sabotage sites"/>
⚫
# LGV Est Européenne: near [[Pagny-sur-Moselle]]<ref name="Sabotage sites"/>
⚫
# [[LGV Nord]]: near [[Croisilles, Pas-de-Calais|Croisilles]]<ref name="Sabotage sites"/>
# [[LGV Sud-Est]]: near [[Vergigny]], foiled by railway workers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adamson |first=Thomas |last2=Schaeffer |first2=Jeffrey |date=2024-07-26 |title=Arsonists attack French high-speed rail system hours before opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics |url=https://apnews.com/article/france-trains-olympics-74c9727d33ac86bfc126f98e45cb874f |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727095209/https://apnews.com/article/france-trains-olympics-74c9727d33ac86bfc126f98e45cb874f |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Effects==
[[File:Paris Gare du Nord crowds.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Crowds of passengers waiting for trains delayed by the attacks at [[Gare du Nord|Paris Gare du Nord]] station]]
⚫
Three [[high-speed line]]s were impacted:
⚫
* LGV Atlantique: two-thirds of trains were not running.<ref name="Malicious act" />
⚫
* LGV Est Européenne: delays of around one and a half hours were reported, but all trains were running. Normal resumption of traffic was expected by 27 July.<ref name="Malicious act" />
⚫
* LGV Nord: delays of around one hour and some trains cancelled, with normal resumption of traffic planned by 29 July.<ref name="Malicious act" />
⚫
Eurostar was forced to cancel a quarter of its trains from 26 to 28 July. The trains that were running were diverted via conventional lines and ran at reduced speed, which extended the journey by approximately one and a half hours.<ref name="Malicious act" />

⚫
More than 800,000 travelers were directly impacted including 250,000 on 26 July.<ref name="Malicious act" />


⚫
British Prime Minister [[Keir Starmer]] originally planned to travel by Eurostar for the Olympics opening ceremony; however, he flew instead due to delays and cancellations caused by the arson attacks.<ref name="Malicious act">{{Cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=France's rail traffic disrupted by 'malicious acts' on morning of Olympic opening ceremony |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/07/26/france-s-high-speed-trains-struck-by-malicious-acts_6699471_7.html |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=[[Le Monde]] |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726083532/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/07/26/france-s-high-speed-trains-struck-by-malicious-acts_6699471_7.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Consequences==
⚫
* British Prime Minister [[Keir Starmer]] originally planned to travel by Eurostar for the Olympics opening ceremony; however, he flew instead due to delays and cancellations caused by the arson attacks.<ref name ="Malicious act">{{Cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=France's rail traffic disrupted by 'malicious acts' on morning of Olympic opening ceremony |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/07/26/france-s-high-speed-trains-struck-by-malicious-acts_6699471_7.html |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=[[Le Monde]] |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726083532/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/07/26/france-s-high-speed-trains-struck-by-malicious-acts_6699471_7.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
⚫
* Three [[high-speed line]]s impacted<ref name ="Malicious act"/> -
⚫
** [[LGV Atlantique]] : two-thirds of trains were not running.<ref name ="Malicious act"/>
⚫
** [[LGV Est Européenne]] : delays of around one and a half hours, but all trains were running (normal resumption of traffic scheduled for Saturday, July 27).<ref name ="Malicious act"/>
⚫
** [[LGV Nord]] : delays of around one hour and some trains cancelled (normal resumption of traffic planned for Monday July 29).<ref name ="Malicious act"/>
⚫
* [[Eurostar]] is forced to cancel a quarter of its trains from 26 July. The trains that run are diverted via the conventional line and run at reduced speed, which extends the journey by approximately one and a half hours.<ref name ="Malicious act"/>
⚫
* More than 800,000 travelers are directly impacted over the entire weekend, including 250,000 on Friday July 26.<ref name ="Malicious act"/>


==Investigation==
==Investigation==
The Paris prosecutor opened a probe into a suspected bid to undermine "fundamental national interests". The intelligence services and law enforcement were mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators.<ref name=":0" />
The Paris prosecutor opened a probe into a suspected bid to undermine "fundamental national interests". The intelligence services and law enforcement were mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators.<ref name=":0" />


⚫
On 25 July, the Israeli foreign minister [[Israel Katz]] had warned his French counterpart about a plot backed by [[Iran and state-sponsored terrorism|Iranian terrorist proxies]] to derail the events.<ref name="Iranian terrorist proxies">{{cite web |date=25 July 2024 |title=Israel warns France of Iran-backed plot |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/israel-warns-france-iran-backed-plot-2024-07-25/ |access-date=26 July 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref> Iran denied these allegations before and after the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Tehran reacts to anti-Iran Israeli claims in Olympics 2024 |url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/218385/Tehran-reacts-to-anti-Iran-Israeli-claims-in-Olympics-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726063935/https://en.mehrnews.com/news/218385/Tehran-reacts-to-anti-Iran-Israeli-claims-in-Olympics-2024 |archive-date=26 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Mehr News Agency |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Izadi |first=Ali |date=2024-07-26 |title=FM Spox undermines Zionists' accusations against Iran regarding Olympics |url=https://en.irna.ir/news/85549507/FM-Spox-undermines-Zionists-accusations-against-Iran-regarding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105603/https://en.irna.ir/news/85549507/FM-Spox-undermines-Zionists-accusations-against-Iran-regarding |archive-date=27 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=IRNA English |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
==Reactions==
===Domestic===
* The French sports minister, [[Amélie Oudéa-Castéra]], expressed her outrage at the vandalism and said that targeting the [[2024 Summer Olympics|games]] was equivalent to targeting France itself.<ref name = "Criminal act">{{cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=Criminal act on high speed train network |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/112036279.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst |accessdate=26 July 2024 |work=The Times of India |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105606/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=criteoPrebidAdapter&topUrl=timesofindia.indiatimes.com&gpp= |url-status=live }}</ref>
* French prime minister [[Gabriel Attal]] pledged to "find and punish" those responsible for "paralysing" the connectivity by sabotage attacks ahead of the evening's opening ceremony.<ref name="Olympics saboteurs">{{cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=PM vows to 'find and punish' Olympics saboteurs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/07/26/france-trains-sabotage-olympics/ |accessdate=26 July 2024 |work=The Telegraph |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726084721/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/07/26/france-trains-sabotage-olympics/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The French transport minister, [[Patrice Vergriete]], warned of "very serious consequences" for rail traffic throughout the weekend, with connections towards northern, eastern, and northwestern France being halved.<ref name = "Criminal act"/>


On 28 July 2024, a man referred to as an "[[ultra-left]] militant" was arrested in north-west France after being found behaving suspiciously near a railway site, with keys to technical premises, pliers, a set of universal keys and literature "[[Left-wing terrorism|linked to the ultra-left]]" found within his car. However, there was no indication at the time of his arrest that he is linked to the earlier attacks.
===Foreign===

⚫
On 25 July, the Israeli foreign minister [[Israel Katz]] had warned his French counterpart about a plot backed by Iranian terrorist proxies to derail the events.<ref name="Iranian terrorist proxies">{{cite web |date=25 July 2024 |title=Israel warns France of Iran-backed plot |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/israel-warns-france-iran-backed-plot-2024-07-25/ |accessdate=26 July 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref> Iran denied these allegations before and after the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Tehran reacts to anti-Iran Israeli claims in Olympics 2024 |url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/218385/Tehran-reacts-to-anti-Iran-Israeli-claims-in-Olympics-2024 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Mehr News Agency |language=en |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726063935/https://en.mehrnews.com/news/218385/Tehran-reacts-to-anti-Iran-Israeli-claims-in-Olympics-2024 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Izadi |first=Ali |date=2024-07-26 |title=FM Spox undermines Zionists' accusations against Iran regarding Olympics |url=https://en.irna.ir/news/85549507/FM-Spox-undermines-Zionists-accusations-against-Iran-regarding |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=IRNA English |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105603/https://en.irna.ir/news/85549507/FM-Spox-undermines-Zionists-accusations-against-Iran-regarding |url-status=live }}</ref>
⚫
==Reactions==
The French sports minister, [[Amélie Oudéa-Castéra]], expressed her outrage at the vandalism and said that targeting the [[2024 Summer Olympics|games]] was equivalent to targeting France itself.<ref name = "Criminal act">{{cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=Criminal act on high speed train network |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/112036279.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst |access-date=26 July 2024 |work=The Times of India |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727105606/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=criteoPrebidAdapter&topUrl=timesofindia.indiatimes.com&gpp= |url-status=live }}</ref> French prime minister [[Gabriel Attal]] pledged to "find and punish" those responsible for "paralysing" the connectivity by sabotage attacks ahead of the evening's opening ceremony.<ref name="Olympics saboteurs">{{cite web |date=26 July 2024 |title=PM vows to 'find and punish' Olympics saboteurs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/07/26/france-trains-sabotage-olympics/ |access-date=26 July 2024 |work=The Telegraph |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726084721/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/07/26/france-trains-sabotage-olympics/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The French transport minister, [[Patrice Vergriete]], warned of "very serious consequences" for rail traffic throughout the weekend, with connections towards northern, eastern, and northwestern France being halved.<ref name = "Criminal act"/> France's Minister of the Interior [[Gerald Darmanin]] told the media that the methods employed were traditional of the ultra-left, providing a possible connection.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gozzi |first1=Lauren |title=Man arrested in France over suspected railway vandalism |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c903431qejqo |access-date=29 July 2024 |work=BBC News |date=29 July 2024}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
* [[Munich massacre]]
* [[Centennial Olympic Park bombing]]
* [[Centennial Olympic Park bombing]]
⚫
* [[Munich massacre]]


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:France railway arson attack, 2024}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:France railway arson attack, 2024}}
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[[Category:2020s crimes in Paris]]
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[[Category:2024 crimes in France|Railway arson attack]]
[[Category:2024 fires in Europe]]
[[Category:2024 in Paris]]
[[Category:2024 in Paris]]
[[Category:2024 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:2024 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:July 2024 crimes in Europe]]
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[[Category:July 2024 events in France|Railway arson attack]]
[[Category:Arson in 2024]]
[[Category:Arson in 2024]]
[[Category:Arson in France|2024 railway attack]]
[[Category:Arson in France|2024 railway attack]]
[[Category:Attacks on railway stations in Europe]]
[[Category:Attacks on railway stations in Europe]]
[[Category:Fires in Paris]]
[[Category:July 2024 crimes in Europe]]
[[Category:July 2024 events in France|Railway arson attack]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents on railway systems in France|2024 arson attack]]
[[Category:Railway accidents in 2024]]
[[Category:TGV]]

Latest revision as of 01:46, 20 November 2024

2024 France railway arson attacks
High-speed train lines targeted by the arson attacks
LocationLGV Atlantique
LGV Nord
LGV Est
LGV Sud-Est
Date26 July 2024
01:00 AM[1] – 05:30 AM[1] (CEST (UTC+02:00))
Attack type
Arson
DeathsNone[2]
InjuredNone[2]
PerpetratorsUnknown

On 26 July 2024, the day of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, a series of arson attacks damaged the LGV Atlantique, Nord, and Est lines of the French high-speed railway system.[3] International and domestic rail services were widely disrupted,[4] with around 800,000 passengers affected.[5] There was also an attempted attack on LGV Sud-Est line, though it was interrupted by TGV maintenance workers who happened to be on site.[6]

Background

[edit]
Main article: Transportation during the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics

A previous attack was avoided on 8 May during the arrival of the Olympic flame in Marseille,[7] when police found four incendiary devices on the LGV Méditerranée line between Aix and Marseille.[1]

Attacks

[edit]

Four signal boxes along the lines connecting Paris with cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west and Strasbourg in the east were damaged, while an attack on the LGV Sud-Est line was interrupted.[6] Eurostar later confirmed that they had cancelled one in four trains as the arson attacks caused high-speed rail disruption. Apart from international trains, domestic rail services were also widely disrupted.[4] It is estimated that 800,000 passengers were affected.[5]

Sabotage sites

[edit]
2024 France railway arson attacks is located in France
Site-1
Site-1
Site-2
Site-2
Site-3
Site-3
Site-4
Site-4
Site-5
Site-5
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the arson attack sites in France
(Source: Eurostar[8])
  1. LGV Atlantique: near Arrou (neighbouring town of Courtalain)[8]
  2. LGV Est Européenne: between the Meuse TGV station and Lamorville[8]
  3. LGV Est Européenne: near Pagny-sur-Moselle[8]
  4. LGV Nord: near Croisilles[8]
  5. LGV Sud-Est: near Vergigny, foiled by railway workers.[9]

Effects

[edit]
Crowds of passengers waiting for trains delayed by the attacks at Paris Gare du Nord station

Three high-speed lines were impacted:

  • LGV Atlantique: two-thirds of trains were not running.[10]
  • LGV Est Européenne: delays of around one and a half hours were reported, but all trains were running. Normal resumption of traffic was expected by 27 July.[10]
  • LGV Nord: delays of around one hour and some trains cancelled, with normal resumption of traffic planned by 29 July.[10]

Eurostar was forced to cancel a quarter of its trains from 26 to 28 July. The trains that were running were diverted via conventional lines and ran at reduced speed, which extended the journey by approximately one and a half hours.[10]

More than 800,000 travelers were directly impacted including 250,000 on 26 July.[10]

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer originally planned to travel by Eurostar for the Olympics opening ceremony; however, he flew instead due to delays and cancellations caused by the arson attacks.[10]

Investigation

[edit]

The Paris prosecutor opened a probe into a suspected bid to undermine "fundamental national interests". The intelligence services and law enforcement were mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators.[5]

On 25 July, the Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz had warned his French counterpart about a plot backed by Iranian terrorist proxies to derail the events.[11] Iran denied these allegations before and after the attack.[12][13]

On 28 July 2024, a man referred to as an "ultra-left militant" was arrested in north-west France after being found behaving suspiciously near a railway site, with keys to technical premises, pliers, a set of universal keys and literature "linked to the ultra-left" found within his car. However, there was no indication at the time of his arrest that he is linked to the earlier attacks.

Reactions

[edit]

The French sports minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, expressed her outrage at the vandalism and said that targeting the games was equivalent to targeting France itself.[14] French prime minister Gabriel Attal pledged to "find and punish" those responsible for "paralysing" the connectivity by sabotage attacks ahead of the evening's opening ceremony.[15] The French transport minister, Patrice Vergriete, warned of "very serious consequences" for rail traffic throughout the weekend, with connections towards northern, eastern, and northwestern France being halved.[14] France's Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin told the media that the methods employed were traditional of the ultra-left, providing a possible connection.[16]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Becq, Coralie (26 July 2024). ""Attaque massive" sur le réseau SNCF : un acte malveillant déjoué sur l'axe Sud-Est" ["Massive attack" on the SNCF network]. France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (in French). Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b Chutel, Lynsey (26 July 2024). "What We Know About the Attacks on France's Rail Network". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  3. ^ Bisset, Victoria; Noack, Rick (26 July 2024). "Arson disrupts France's high-speed trains hours before Olympics, officials say". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b Phillips, Jacob; Mata, William (26 July 2024). "Eurostars cancelled as arson attack sparks travel chaos ahead of Olympics - live". The Standard. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "French rail network hit by arson attacks before Olympics opening ceremony". The Guardian. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b "'Criminal' attack on France's high-speed train network". France24. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  7. ^ "INFO BFMTV. "Sabotage" SNCF: un engin incendiaire déjà retrouvé sur la LGV Sud-Est lors du passage de la flamme à Marseille". BFMTV (in French). Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Le trafic de TGV en France commence à reprendre après des perturbations liées à des 'actes de malveillance'" [TGV traffic in France begins to resume after disruptions linked to 'malicious acts']. RTS. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  9. ^ Adamson, Thomas; Schaeffer, Jeffrey (26 July 2024). "Arsonists attack French high-speed rail system hours before opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics". AP News. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "France's rail traffic disrupted by 'malicious acts' on morning of Olympic opening ceremony". Le Monde. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Israel warns France of Iran-backed plot". Reuters. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Tehran reacts to anti-Iran Israeli claims in Olympics 2024". Mehr News Agency. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  13. ^ Izadi, Ali (26 July 2024). "FM Spox undermines Zionists' accusations against Iran regarding Olympics". IRNA English. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Criminal act on high speed train network". The Times of India. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  15. ^ "PM vows to 'find and punish' Olympics saboteurs". The Telegraph. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  16. ^ Gozzi, Lauren (29 July 2024). "Man arrested in France over suspected railway vandalism". BBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
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