Arsonists have carried out attacks on France’s high-speed train network causing major travel disruption ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
The state-owned railway operator SNCF said fires had been set at installations along the lines connecting the capital with cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in west and Strasbourg in the east.
It said timetables would be severely impacted over the weekend and has urged all travellers to postpone their journeys.
Paris Olympics: Eurostar affected by ‘acts of malice’
Eurostar has also said services between London and Paris were being diverted, with several trains cancelled and journey times increased by 90 minutes.
Passengers at St Pancras in London were warned to expect delays of around an hour.
Announcements in the international departure hall informed travellers heading to Paris that there was a problem with overhead power supplies.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera condemned the vandalism, which she referred to as “a sort of coordinated sabotage”.
She said: “It’s completely appalling.
“To target the games is to target France.”
She added: “It will disrupt this day and probably this weekend as well.”
Transport minister Patrice Vergriete said in a post on X that he “firmly condemns these criminal incidents” and that SNCF was working to restore services.
It comes as an unprecedented peacetime security operation is under way in Paris to safeguard the games, with more than 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 private security agents deployed.
Snipers have also been stationed on rooftops while drones are keeping watch from the air.
SNCF said in a statement: “Last night, the SNCF was victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed lines.
“Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations.”
Eurostar said in a statement: “Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting the high speed line between Paris and Lille, all high speed trains going to and coming from Paris are being diverted via the classic line today Friday 26 July.
“This extends the journey time by around an hour and a half.
“Several trains have been cancelled.”
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Many families on both sides of the Channel were also heading on summer holidays on Friday.
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