The sabotage on France's high-speed train lines this Friday, which affected hundreds of thousands of people on the opening day of the Olympics, was well-prepared and demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the railway network, emphasized French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

Speaking to the press from the crisis center at the Ministry of Transportation, Attal, exercising caution, refused to speculate on the circulating hypothesis that a far-left group might be responsible, citing that the investigation has just begun.

However, he noted, "What can be observed is that this operation was prepared, coordinated, and targeted critical points, indicating a level of knowledge necessary to disrupt the network."

He highlighted "the massive impact on our citizens" and the "determination" of the perpetrators to "intentionally block hundreds of thousands of people."

The attacks, which occurred between 1:00 and 5:30 in the morning, involved arson on signaling equipment for high-speed train lines (TGV).

The sabotage affected three of the four TGV lines departing from Paris: the northern line (which serves destinations such as London, Brussels, the Netherlands, and northern Germany via the Eurostar), the eastern line, and the Atlantic line.

The Paris Prosecutor's Office is leading the investigation, which is open for four crimes and involves not only the usual law enforcement agencies but also the intelligence services.

The SNCF is set to present a new transportation plan this afternoon to offer alternatives to the 250,000 people it estimates have already been affected by the disruptions, a number that could reach 800,000 if the issues persist throughout the weekend.

This crisis arose just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, significantly disrupting the city's functioning. The center of Paris is cordoned off in anticipation of around 600,000 spectators, and traffic is nearly suspended.

Bach on Train Sabotages: "I'm Not Worried; We Trust the French Authorities"

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), announced on Friday that his concerns regarding security at the Paris 2024 Games have not heightened following the sabotage of the French high-speed train network earlier this morning.

"No, I'm not worried. We have full confidence in the French authorities," assured the German official after the Olympic torch relay at the athletes' village.

Bach emphasized that "all necessary measures are being taken, with the French authorities receiving support from 180 intelligence services worldwide. This assistance includes not just information but also the deployment of human resources by some agencies."

As a result, he stated, "we have every reason to trust completely."

The National Society of French Railways (SNCF) reported that the affected train lines, with delays and suspensions, include the northern routes (which encompass TGV trains to London, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Germany), western routes (Brittany, Bordeaux), and eastern routes (Strasbourg, Frankfurt).

The North, East, and Montparnasse stations were particularly impacted, leaving thousands of travelers stranded since the morning.

The fourth TGV axis from Paris, the southeast route (Lyon, Marseille), was unaffected because an attempt to sabotage this line "was thwarted," detailed the SNCF.