Massive attack hits Paris train network ahead of Olympics opening

A “massive attack” hit France’s high-speed TGV rail network ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony – over 800,000 passengers are affected, according to rail operation SNCF Chief Executive Jean-Pierre Farandou.

The attack, dubbed as massive, was an “outrageous criminal act” – French Transport Minister Patrice Vergriet said Friday.

There would be "very serious consequences" for rail traffic throughout the weekend with connections towards northern, eastern and northwestern France halved, Vergriete added.,

"These Games are for the athletes who have been dreaming of them for years and fighting for the holy grail of standing on the podium -- and someone's sabotaging that for them," Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said.

French security forces are currently hunting people behind the arson attacks that hobbled – per Agence France-Presse.

"Our intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilized to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts," Attal posted on X, calling the attacks "prepared and coordinated acts of sabotage against (rail operator) SNCF's installations" with "huge and serious consequences for the rail network".