France has been subjected to large—scale sabotage - trains are standing, the Olympics are under "attack"

This Friday, just a few hours before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, France's high-speed rail network suffered arson attacks that disrupted the travel of hundreds of thousands of passengers. A source close to the investigation of the incident told France-Presse (AFP) that the attacks were "coordinated acts of sabotage."

"This is a large—scale attack aimed at paralyzing the railway network," AFP said today, July 26. The National Company of French Railways (SNCF), the leading operator of passenger rail transport in the country.

Many flights have been or will be canceled, they warned.

"SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious actions overnight," the company said, adding that the "attacks" affected its Atlantic, northern and eastern rail lines.

"Arson attacks have begun in order to damage our facilities," the report says, which also emphasizes that traffic on the affected lines is "seriously disrupted," and this situation will last until the end of the week while repairs are being carried out.

SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou said about 800,000 passengers were affected.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergrit called the incident an "outrageous criminal act" that will have "very serious consequences" for rail traffic throughout the weekend. He informed that railway connections with the northern, northwestern and eastern regions of France will be halved.

The SNCF said that the trains will be transferred to other tracks, "but we will have to cancel most of them," urging passengers to postpone trips and not visit railway stations.

The acts of sabotage were committed at a time when enhanced security measures are being taken in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games, at which 300,000 spectators and VIPs are expected to attend. Up to 7,500 participants of the Games will take part in the parade on Friday evening, which will sail along the six-kilometer section of the Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats.

This will be the first time that the Summer Olympic Games will open outside the main athletics stadium. One way or another, but this decision is fraught with its own dangers at a time when France is in a state of maximum readiness for terrorist attacks, AFP notes.