While the world was focused on Paris for the opening of the Olympic Games, several sites of the high-speed rail network in France were sabotaged on the night of July 26th. Cables transmitting safety information to drivers were damaged and burned. The French railway company labeled these incidents as a “massive attack.” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called on French intelligence services to identify and punish the perpetrators. Naturally, these attacks highlighted the growing security challenges France faces, especially as Paris hosts the Olympics to bolster its global image.
Key Implications
The sabotage of France’s railway network reveals several key implications:
Revealing Security Gaps in France: The incidents exposed security flaws in the French railway system, which allowed a group of saboteurs to disrupt most of the high-speed rail network using simple methods. This occurred during the last weekend of July, a peak travel time with heavy passenger traffic (people going on August holidays and returning from July holidays, known as Chassé–Croisé), and on the day of the Olympic opening ceremony, when thousands were headed to Paris. Some attribute these vulnerabilities to the vast size of the French railway network, encompassing about 28,000 kilometers of track and 25,000 buildings, making constant security a complex task.
Targeting Critical Infrastructure: The strategic significance of railways as a potential target is evident. These acts of sabotage disrupted or delayed the travel plans of 800,000 people over the weekend, including 250,000 on July 26th alone. The timing of these events, coinciding with the Olympic opening ceremony, amplified their media impact, as the coordinated attack occurred at 4 a.m., just hours before the ceremony.
Saboteurs’ Knowledge of the Rail Network: The locations of the attacks indicate the saboteurs’ extensive knowledge of the network. They targeted critical “nerve points”: the first attack in Courtalain near where high-speed trains diverge between Brittany and southwest France; the second in Croisilles, affecting routes to the south, the Eurostar to the UK, and the Thalys to Belgium; and the third in Pagny-sur-Moselle, impacting the TGV Est line to the east. A planned attack on Verginy, affecting the TGV Sud-Est line to the southeast, was thwarted by vigilant railway workers.
Growing Debate on Left-Wing Extremist Involvement: Some French analysts suggest that the saboteurs may belong to far-left groups, drawing parallels to the 2008 Tarnac incident. Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra’s statement that the attackers acted against their country hints at internal involvement. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal urged caution regarding the attackers’ identity, noting the operation was well-prepared and coordinated. Several media outlets received a letter on July 27th from a group calling itself “Unexpected Delegation,” justifying the sabotage and criticizing the Olympics, using language typical of far-left anarchist groups.
Paris’ Dilemma
The sabotage of France’s railway network could have wide-ranging consequences, including:
Economic Losses Due to High-Speed Rail Disruptions: On the morning of July 26, 2024, the Transport Minister announced that high-speed trains on the affected lines would use traditional tracks, causing delays and the cancellation of about half of the services. This inconvenienced passengers and resulted in significant economic losses, estimated at 41 million euros per day in local tourism due to delayed arrivals of vacationers (estimated at 300,000). The French railway company’s losses from the sabotage have not been disclosed, but strikes by its controllers cost it about 20 million euros daily.
Pressure on Paris to Enhance Security Measures: These incidents are likely to lead to increased security measures at railway stations and along rail lines. Following a similar incident in January 2023, where 600 cables were damaged, disrupting Gare de l’Est traffic for two days, a plan was implemented to secure such facilities with surveillance cameras and anti-intrusion barriers at around 100 key points. However, the recent attacks revealed these measures were insufficient. The French railway company has been deploying drones equipped with thermal cameras to detect human presence at sensitive sites like electrical or signal stations. Despite investing 35 million dollars in 2023 to secure its facilities, these measures did not prevent the latest breaches.
Increased Pressure on the French Railway Company: The company focused on quickly repairing the damaged infrastructure, announcing a return to normal traffic on Monday morning, July 29, 2024, after mobilizing hundreds of technicians. It also announced that tickets for high-speed trains on July 26, 27, or 28, which were canceled or not used, would be fully refundable or exchangeable. Passengers could also receive compensation of 25% of the ticket price for delays between 30 minutes and two hours and 50% for delays over two hours.
France’s Commitment to Pursue Saboteurs: The Paris Prosecutor’s Office, through the National Judicial Authority for the Fight Against Organized Crime (Junalco), will investigate the deliberate damage to French railway sites. The investigation involves four charges: damaging national interests, causing and attempting to cause harm with dangerous means by an organized group, attacks on an automated system, and forming a criminal group. These charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a 225,000-euro fine. Investigators will also examine an incendiary device found on the high-speed rail line between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille on May 8, 2024, the day the Olympic torch arrived in Marseille. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin believes that with several leads, they will quickly identify the railway saboteurs.
Speculation on Russian Involvement: Some French analysts suggest that even without current evidence of Russian involvement, the possibility should not be dismissed. A secret memo from French internal intelligence in February 2024 warned of potential sabotage by Russian intelligence. Recent accusations against Russia include orchestrating various destabilizing acts in France. In November 2023, two Moldovan nationals were arrested for drawing the Star of David on Paris walls, allegedly on Russian orders. Paris also suspects Moscow in the placement of French-flag-draped coffins near the Eiffel Tower in June 2024, inscribed with “French soldiers in Ukraine.” A Russian intelligence agent named Kirill Gryaznov was arrested in Paris in July 2024 for espionage and planning hostile acts in France. A Russian-Ukrainian citizen was charged with terrorism after being injured while making an explosive device in a hotel near Roissy in June 2024. Some analyses link these activities to Moscow’s attempts to disrupt European rail lines, similar to incidents in the Czech Republic in May 2024, targeting infrastructure crucial for transporting people, goods, and weapons to Ukraine.
Israeli Accusations of Iranian Involvement: Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz suggested that the sabotage was influenced by the Iranian axis, indicating he would provide French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné with information about Iran’s plans to carry out terrorist attacks against the Israeli Olympic delegation and other participants. Prior to the sabotage, an Iranian-linked hacker group named “Zeus” had allegedly hacked the phones and personal computers of Israeli Olympic team members, protesting the presence of military personnel among them. The group published the athletes’ data on social media. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani dismissed Israel’s accusations.
Far-Right French Groups Exploit Crisis to Attack Opponents: Far-right forces in France used the crisis to criticize political opponents. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen attacked the far-left, stating, “Hundreds of thousands of French people were preparing to go on vacation, stranded at stations after a series of destruction against networks,” and added that for years, violence and destruction of public property have been common tactics of the far-left. Le Pen urged the state to end its leniency towards such acts.
Negative Impact on France’s International Reputation: These sabotage acts damage France’s international reputation, portraying it as unable to secure a major event like the Olympics. This perception was reinforced by controversies surrounding the opening ceremony and power outages in some French regions. On July 29, 2024, French authorities also announced that fiber optic networks in various areas had been sabotaged.
Conclusion
Despite the quick repair of the network, the investigation to uncover the mastermind behind this coordinated attack may take weeks. Some opinions suggest that the condemnation will likely target a far-left group based on the methods used and the message sent to the media. Others argue that the possibility of foreign intervention should not be dismissed, particularly given Russia’s recent efforts to destabilize France. Ignoring one potential lead over others could be a mistake.
