The Paris Olympic Games began under heavy security just hours after a coordinated arson attack paralyzed France’s national railway system and rattled the nerves of an already tense city.
French organizers spent years planning the country’s highlight moment: a grand and secretive opening ceremony in which 94 boats will transport nearly 7,000 athletes from 206 delegations along a route of nearly four miles. The route, passing by monuments and under bridges, was designed to celebrate the city itself as an Olympic venue.
Since the decision to exceptionally hold the opening outdoors instead of in a stadium, security has been the main concern. Authorities enlisted more than 50,000 police officers to protect a crowd expected to approach half a million people.
The attacks on Friday morning—fires that authorities said were deliberately set to disrupt the start of the Games—highlighted how difficult this task would be.
The details of the attack:
A series of arson attacks on France’s railway network disrupted service on three high-speed train lines—the Atlantic, North, and East lines. The fires, which were set in pipes carrying cables used for signaling and were described as “criminal,” were all detected around 4 a.m., according to Patrice Vergriete, France’s transport minister.
No one was killed or injured, but the damage to the train lines caused significant delays, as thousands of local and international travelers were expected in Paris for the opening ceremony of the games.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but given their scale and precision, it is clear that they are more than just random acts of vandalism, French authorities said.
A source told CNN that French intelligence services are “fully mobilized” to find those responsible.
Train service is expected to be affected until Monday, disrupting the plans of more than a million people, including French tourists, Olympic athletes, and visitors. French authorities have advised travelers to postpone their trips if possible.
Despite the chaos, the opening of the Olympics took place along the banks of the Seine River as scheduled, with the presence of more than 300,000 people, a number that was nearly halved due to security concerns.
Sources: The New York Times and CNN