The Olympic Games in Paris are off to a good start: first unknown persons sabotaged the track, now it’s the Internet’s turn. The authorities are investigating – and are reporting initial successes.
Three days after the serious sabotage of French rail traffic, unknown persons have now damaged the fiber optic cables of several French Internet providers in nighttime “acts of sabotage”. Free and SFR were among those affected, police sources said on Monday. Six departments in the southwest, east and north of the country were affected by these “acts of sabotage” – but not the capital Paris, where the Olympic Games are currently taking place.
French authorities suspect left-wing attacks
Meanwhile, rail traffic in France has returned to normal. “All trains” are running “normally” again, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete told broadcaster RTL. On Sunday, a large-scale return to normality of rail traffic had already been reported.
The investigators now have a clear picture of the possible perpetrators. “We have identified a number of profiles of people who could have carried out these very deliberate and very targeted acts of sabotage,” said France’s acting Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin on France 2.
Darmanin said that the attacks corresponded to a “traditional approach of ultra-leftists.” A letter claiming responsibility with references to the radical left scene and criticism of the Olympic Games was sent to several media outlets. According to Darmanin, it must be checked whether this is authentic or whether people just want to take credit for the attacks.
Police arrest left-wing extremist activist
Meanwhile, police have arrested a left-wing extremist activist on a French railway site. The man had keys to SNCF technical equipment, cutting pliers and left-wing extremist writings in his car, police sources said on Monday.
The man was reportedly arrested on Sunday in Oissel near Rouen in northern France. He is in police custody.
The police initially made no connection between Friday’s acts of sabotage and the suspect. No one has yet publicly claimed responsibility for Friday’s acts. The approach is “typical of left-wing extremists,” Darmanin told France 2 on Monday.
Hundreds of thousands affected by sabotage on French railways
On Friday night, unknown perpetrators carried out arson attacks on strategically important parts of the French high-speed train network. Rail traffic in France was severely disrupted so shortly before the opening of the Olympic Games on Friday evening. Trains are now running normally again, as Deputy Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete told RTL. Darmanin said it was not yet possible to say whether the perpetrators had support from people within the SNCF.
Hundreds of thousands of travelers were affected by the sabotage, including some German Olympic participants who were unable to arrive in time for the opening ceremony. It was reported that 100,000 of the approximately 800,000 people who wanted to travel by train over the weekend had their train connections cancelled. The remaining passengers were ultimately able to make their journey. The SNCF has promised compensation for the train cancellations and delays.
According to Vergriete, the damage caused by the “economic losses” and the repair costs will “very likely” run into the millions. However, there is “no question that this will have a direct impact” on the French railways’ ticket prices.
Following the acts of sabotage, surveillance of the 28,000 kilometers of high-speed lines in France has been significantly increased, according to the Ministry of Transport. A thousand railway employees responsible for line maintenance and 250 railway security personnel are on duty until further notice. The railway lines are also being monitored with drones and helicopters, the ministry said.
Initially, no one claimed responsibility for the acts of sabotage. The public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into damage to state interests.
Source: Stern
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