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| Iran behind French rail sabotage ahead of Paris Olympics -Israel | ||
| 2024-07-27 | ||
Iran orchestrated last week's attacks against France’s high-speed rail network, which paralyzed traffic ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Friday. “The sabotage of railway infrastructure across France ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics was planned and executed under the influence of Iran’s axis of evil and radical Islam,” Katz wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Katz added that he warned French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournef that “based on information held by Israel, Iranians are planning terrorist attacks against the Israeli delegation and all Olympic participants.” “Increased preventive measures must be taken to thwart their plot,” he wrote. The French national railway operator, SNCF, said on Friday that arsonists set fire to signal boxes along the lines connecting Paris to several major cities, including Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. The “massive attack” disrupted traffic ahead of the Games and led to delays and cancelations, affecting 800,000 passengers over the weekend, the operator said. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Friday that the “acts of sabotage on SNCF facilities were carried out in a planned and coordinated manner.” He wrote on X that intelligence agencies and police were mobilized to find the perpetrators. Sejourne reiterated that Israeli athletes are “welcome in France,” despite the tensions surrounding the war in Gaza and pro-Palestinian protests. France 24 reported that the Israeli delegation was given 24-hour security with an enhanced police escort. According to The Telegraph, Israel will dispatch armed Shin Bet agents to Paris to provide additional security for its athletes and Olympic officials.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the company said at least three TGV lines had been damaged, including the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern routes. A group of saboteurs set fires and stole cables at the Courtalain, Pagny-sur-Moselle, and Croisilles junctions of the high-speed network. Another attack was foiled in Verginy on the South-Eastern line. The operator said “a large number of trains are being diverted or canceled,” while the company’s CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou estimated that at least 800,000 travelers would be affected by the disruption. In a statement, SNCF asked all travelers who can postpone their trips to do so or use the classic (non-high-speed) lines until TGV traffic is restored. Repairs have already started, but are expected to continue until at least Monday. “It’s big. There are hundreds of wires to reconnect one by one, which control safety devices. Then we have to test. It’s a goldsmith’s work,” Matthieu Chabanel, head of maintenance at the SNCF, told Le Figaro. Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said the attacks were deliberate, as “everything was done at the same time” with the perpetrators’ “vans” found on sites. So far, however, nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack, and no arrests have been made. | ||
| Posted by:Skidmark |
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| Posted by: Omeath Spaling8608 2024-07-27 23:49 |
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| Posted by: Omeath Spaling8608 2024-07-27 17:10 |