Recent Fiber Optic Network Sabotage in France
Some fiber optic networks across France have been reported to have been “destroyed” – just days after arson attacks crippled high-speed train services during the Olympics opening ceremony. Cables to several telecoms operators in six French regions were deliberately cut early on Monday, police told AFP. However, Paris was not affected by the sabotage.
Extent of Damage and Efforts to Identify Perpetrators
According to French newspaper Le Parisien, cables in electrical cabinets of operators SFR and Bouygues in southern France have been cut, and installations in the Meuse region near Luxembourg and the Oise region near Paris have also been damaged. The vandalism mainly affects fixed-line services, not mobile devices. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on the country’s infrastructure.
The incident came just three days after a “coordinated” operation paralyzed high-speed train services on three main lines connecting Paris with Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. A fourth attack on the Paris-Marseille line was foiled by night workers. High-speed train disruptions affected the travel of at least 250,000 passengers on Friday, including those traveling on Eurostar trains from other parts of Europe including the UK.
Government Response and Investigation
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said French intelligence services had mobilized to find the perpetrators of “acts of sabotage” which he described as “prepared and coordinated”. Attal said they had “a clear goal: to block the high-speed rail network before the Olympics opening ceremony.” Sports Minister Amélie Oudia-Castella condemned the attacks, stating that “Fighting against the Olympics is fighting against France, against your own camp, against your country.”
Interior Minister Gerrald Darmanin said on Monday that “several people” had been identified as involved in the train sabotage and were suspected of being linked to French far-left anarchists. According to “France 24”, Darmanin said that the attack on the high-speed rail line was “deliberate, very precise, and highly targeted.” He added that the government was still investigating “whether they were manipulated” or “acting for their own benefit.”
As of Monday morning, all train lines targeted were operating normally, but the investigations continue to uncover the motives and perpetrators behind these coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure in France.
