2024 France railway arson attacks

On 26 July 2024, the day of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, a series of arson attacks damaged the LGV Atlantique, Nord, and Est lines of the French high-speed railway system.[10] British Prime Minister Keir Starmer originally planned to travel by Eurostar for the Olympics opening ceremony; however, he flew instead due to delays and cancellations caused by the arson attacks.[5] On 25 July, the Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz had warned his French counterpart about a plot backed by Iranian terrorist proxies to derail the events.[16] French prime minister Gabriel Attal pledged to "find and punish" those responsible for "paralysing" the connectivity by sabotage attacks ahead of the evening's opening ceremony.[17] The French transport minister, Patrice Vergriete, warned of "very serious consequences" for rail traffic throughout the weekend, with connections towards northern, eastern, and northwestern France being halved.
Crowds of passengers waiting for trains delayed by the attacks at Paris Gare du Nord station
opening ceremony2024 Summer OlympicsLGV AtlantiqueFrench high-speed railway systemLGV Sud-EstTransportation during the 2024 Summer Olympics and ParalympicsOlympic flameMarseilleLGV MéditerranéeBordeauxStrasbourgEurostarCourtalainLGV Est EuropéenneMeuse TGV stationLamorvillePagny-sur-MoselleLGV NordCroisillesVergignyParis Gare du Nordhigh-speed linesKeir StarmerIsrael KatzIranian terrorist proxiesultra-leftlinked to the ultra-leftAmélie Oudéa-CastéraGabriel AttalPatrice VergrieteGerald DarmaninCentennial Olympic Park bombingMunich massacreFrance 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurThe Washington PostLe Monde