Travel chaos in Paris after ‘malicious acts’ ahead of Olympics opening ceremony

French transport minister Patrice Vergriete has condemned “malicious acts” that have severely disrupted travel across the country on the day of the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

High-speed trains including Eurostar were hit by what the national rail company SNCF called a series of co-ordinated arson attacks, although there was no immediate evidence of a link to the Games.

SNCF said its Atlantic, North and East networks were damaged in the incidents, but that an attempted attack in the South-East was foiled.

Vergriete wrote in a post on X: “Co-ordinated malicious acts targeted several TGV lines last night and will seriously disrupt traffic until this weekend.

“I strongly condemn these criminal actions which will compromise the departures on vacation of many French people. A big thank you to the #SNCF teams, on deck to restore traffic conditions as quickly as possible.”

Trains from London to Paris and Lille were being delayed by around an hour and a half, and several trains have been cancelled. Eurostar said all high-speed trains to and from Paris were being diverted to a slower line.

Writing on X, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal described the consequences as “massive and serious”, saying: “Early this morning, acts of sabotage were carried out in a prepared and coordinated manner on SNCF installations.

“The consequences on the rail network are massive and serious. I express my sincere gratitude to our firefighters who intervened on the affected sites and to the SNCF agents who will carry out the necessary work to restore the network.

“I think of all the French people, all the families, who were preparing to go on vacation. I share their anger and salute their patience, their understanding and the civic-mindedness they demonstrate.

“Our intelligence services and law enforcement are mobilised to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts.”

The majority of Team GB athletes are arriving at the Games via Eurostar. However the British Olympic Association confirmed that only two athletes were scheduled to arrive on Friday, and had been subject to only minor delays.

I strongly condemn these criminal actions which will compromise the departures on vacation of many French people. A big thank you to the #SNCF teams, on deck to restore traffic conditions as quickly as possible

Security has been high in Paris in the build-up to the historic opening ceremony, in which athletes will travel down the River Seine on a flotilla of boats.

On Sunday, a Russian man, Kirill Gryaznov, was arrested at his flat in Paris accused of being a spy who was part of a plot to disrupt the Games.

Russia is officially barred from the Games due to its war in Ukraine, although just over a dozen athletes from the country are being allowed to compete as neutrals.

There was no immediate link between the incidents, which involved fires being laid across the tracks, and Russia or Belarus.