Paris Olympics: Major disruption as arson attacks hit rail lines across France; minister does not rule out Russian interference – latest

By admin On Jul 26, 2024

What you need to know

10:58:41 In pictures: Torch paraded through Olympic village

Away from the alarm and misery caused by the arson attacks on French railway lines, the Olympic torch has been paraded through the Olympic village.

Emma Terho, chair of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission, and Thomas Bach, IOC president, were there to lead proceedings.

10:49:36 German government condemns attacks

The German government has condemned the arson attacks on French railway lines.

It also said it was awaiting the outcome of a French investigation into the incidents.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be attending the Olympics opening ceremony later.

A spokesperson said there was a perception that French authorities had taken all necessary precautions to maintain security at the Games.

10:43:31 What do we know about the opening ceremony?

The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics has promised to be “bold” and “original”.

And for the first time in the history of the Olympic summer games, the ceremony will not take place in a stadium but on water along the River Seine.

Here is what we know…

A total of 10,500 athletes will board boats which will then go down the River Seine.

The boats, which will be equipped with cameras to allow viewers to see the athletes up close, will depart from Austerlitz bridge.

While on board, athletes will get glimpses of some of the official games venues, including Parc Urbain La Concorde, the Esplanade des Invalides and the Grand Palais.

The parade will come to the end of its 6km route in front of the Trocadero, where French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to be.

There are around 94 boats altogether.

10:28:14 Eurostar urges passengers to postpone journeys

Eurostar is urging passengers to postpone journeys between London and Paris after French railway lines were hit by arson attacks.

“We encourage our customers to postpone their trip if possible,” it said in a statement.

Earlier (8.34am post) it said its services had been disrupted by “acts of malice” in France.

It said the high-speed line between Paris and Lille had been affected and “all high-speed trains going to and coming from Paris” were being diverted.

It added: “This extends the journey time by around an hour and a half.

“Several trains have been cancelled.”

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn has also warned of disruptions to its long-distance rail network.

“Due to damage caused by vandalism, Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance services between France and Germany are subject in the short term to cancellations and delays,” the state-owned rail operator said on its website.

10:20:01 Athletes will be able to ‘block out’ any chaos, Sir Steve Redgrave says

Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave has been speaking to Sky News in the last few moments.

Speaking from St Pancras, the British rower, who won five Olympic golds over 20 years, said the athletes will be able to “block out” all of the disruption happening at the moment.

“They block it out completely, they are just totally focused in the direction they want to be,” he said.

“They will be in the village for a few days before they start competing.”

Asked how much of a role his family played in his success, Sir Steve said: “Very much so.

“I met my wife through rowing – we both competed at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“We were married when we went to the Seoul games and then my first daughter came along at Barcelona. The next one came along just before Atlanta and then my son came along just before Sydney.

“I didn’t want to have any more children so that meant I had to stop competing as well.

“But it’s nice being a part of that.

“My parents were also hugely supportive. I’ve got two older sisters and my mum taught all three of us to drive and then taught herself to become a driving instructor just to raise money to help fund me to compete.”

10:15:42 SNCF chief condemns ‘desire to seriously harm’

The head of SNCF has described arson attacks on French railway tracks as “premeditated, calculated, coordinated” and said there was a “desire to seriously harm”.

Jean-Pierre Farandou suggested intersections had been targeted.

“For a fire, we reach two destinations,” he told BFMTV.

He also said “meticulous work” was getting under way at three different sites.

“We are absolutely sorry that we are not able to run the trains expected by the French,” he added.

“Our duty is to mobilise. Thousands of railway workers will mobilise to repair, to welcome customers and guide them, to think about the transport plan that we are going to make.”

10:07:30 Intelligence services ‘mobilised’, French PM says

France’s “intelligence services and law enforcement agencies” have been “mobilised” following arson attacks on railway lines, France’s prime minister has said.

Gabriel Attal said officers had been asked to “find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts”.

He described the consequences for the rail network as “massive and serious”.

The “acts of sabotage” were carried out in a “prepared and coordinated manner”, he said.

Mr Attal thanked firefighters and SNCF workers and said: “I am thinking of all the French people, all the families, who were getting ready to go on holiday.

“I share their anger and salute their patience, understanding and civic-mindedness.”

10:03:49 In pictures: Passengers hit by travel disruption

Images are continuing to emerge of the passengers waiting for their trains at the Gare du Nord station in Paris after train lines in France were vandalised in coordinated attacks.

The attacks are disrupting travel on the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris.

10:00:08 09:41:29 Travel chaos ‘going to add to the many headaches’

The train disruption is “going to add to the many headaches”, our sports correspondent Rob Harris says.

Harris, who is in the main press centre for the Olympics in Paris, says the main news conference has been cancelled only 20 minutes before it was about to start.

“No reason is being given,” he says.

“We’ve been asking to try and find out. They do say it is not to do with the trains but they are not saying what other cause has prompted them to cancel the press conference.”

He says this is a “huge disruption” for organisers who have spent years making plans for this.

“This disruption on the train system is going to add to the many headaches,” he adds.

Harris goes on to say this is “an additional challenge” for organisers who were “trying to stage the most ambitious opening ceremony in Olympic history”.

“It’s not the one we are used to seeing in a stadium,” he says.

“Instead, it will see athletes boarding 85 boats in the Olympic village and then parading in a flotilla down the River Seine and then disembarking at the Trocadero site which is where we expect to see Emmanuel Macron.”

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