“Modus operandi of the extreme left” –

Today in France began with chaos and tension, and will end with the opening ceremony of the Olympics on the Seine in Paris. This morning, the SNCF, the public rail transport company, reported large-scale “sabotage” of the high-speed network, where arson attacks occurred and cables were cut. Several lines were blocked, especially in the north and east of the country, but also in the Eurostar tunnel that passes under the Channel. In Paris, traffic at the Montparnasse station only resumed at the end of the morning. The president of the SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou, spoke of 800,000 travellers affected by the disruption.

Among them, many had planned to travel to Paris that day to attend the opening of the Games. An investigation has been opened into the case by the Paris prosecutor’s office. At the moment, those responsible for these attacks on railway infrastructure remain unknown, although the media, citing police sources, speak of a modus operandi similar to that of far-left circles. From the crisis cell, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal launched an appeal for “prudence” given that the investigation has just been launched and there is still no information on those responsible. French President Emmanuel Macron, questioned by the press at the Elysée, said that he would not make any public statements on what happened.