French authorities are investigating a series of vandalism incidents that have affected both telecom and rail networks across the country. The latest reports, released by Le Parisien and BFM TV, detail how installations belonging to French telecom companies SFR and Bouygues Telecom have been targeted.
According to the reports, the sabotage involved cutting cables in electrical cabinets located in southern France. Other areas hit include the Meuse region, close to Luxembourg, and the Oise area, near Paris. These attacks primarily disrupted fixed-line telephone services, causing significant inconvenience to many residents.
The situation worsened on Friday when saboteurs struck France’s high-speed rail network. They targeted signal substations and cables in a series of pre-dawn attacks. The timing of the attacks was particularly disruptive, occurring just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
As a result, the rail network experienced severe travel chaos, with about 800,000 people affected. Among them, around 100,000 travelers had their trains canceled entirely.
In response to the rail network attacks, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed that one person, identified as a far-left extremist, was arrested on Sunday. This arrest is linked to the rail network sabotage, although authorities have not yet established a connection between these incidents and the recent telecom vandalism.
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Normal traffic resumed only on Monday morning after extensive efforts to repair the damaged infrastructure. The disruptions highlight ongoing security concerns in France as the country prepares for the major international event of the Paris Olympics.
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