France train network sabotage could be “organized crime” | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

French authorities have started an investigation into acts of sabotage targeting their high-speed train network on early Friday morning. They say the vandalism could be related to organized crime.

Officials with the state-owned railway say saboteurs damaged signal boxes along train lines connecting Paris with cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west and Strasbourg in the east.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said, “What we can see is the that this operation has been prepared, coordinated, and key points have been targeted, showing a certain knowledge of the network and where to strike.”

The sabotage paralyzed travel on the high-speed TGV network to and from the capital, as well as the rest of France and Europe.

Spectators and even some athletes were forced to miss the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

A male passenger in Paris said, “This is going to impact the first day. I hope nothing else happens during the Olympics.”

A female passenger, who was stuck in London after the Eurostar canceled its service to Paris, said, “As far as we’re concerned, we came up here and we’re prepared to wait for however long. We just want to get out to Paris.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had to switch his plans from riding on the Eurostar to taking a flight to Paris instead.

Train service is expected to be disrupted through Monday, and it is believed that 800,000 passengers will be affected.