Iran behind French rail sabotage ahead of Olympics – Israel

Tehran is also planning “terrorist attacks” at the Games, the Israeli foreign minister said

Iran has orchestrated vandalism attacks against the French high-speed rail network, which paralyzed traffic ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Friday. 

“The sabotage of railway infrastructure across France ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics was planned and executed under the influence of Iran’s axis of evil and radical Islam,” Katz wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

Katz added that he warned French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne that “based on information held by Israel, Iranians are planning terrorist attacks against the Israeli delegation and all Olympic participants.”

“Increased preventive measures must be taken to thwart their plot,” he wrote.

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The French national railway operator SNCF said on Friday that arsonists set fire to signal boxes along the lines connecting Paris to several major cities, including Lille, Bordeaux and Strasbourg. The “massive attack” disrupted traffic ahead of the games and has led to the delays and cancellations, which affected 800,000 passengers over the weekend, the operator said. 

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Friday that the “acts of sabotage on SNCF facilities were carried out in a planned and coordinated manner.” He wrote on X that intelligence agencies and police were “mobilized” to find the perpetrators.

Sejourne reiterated that Israeli athletes were “welcome in France,” despite the tensions surrounding the war in Gaza and pro-Palestinian protests. France 24 reported tha the Israeli delegation was given 24-hour security with a boosted police escort.

According to the Telegraph, Israel would dispatch armed Shin Bet agents to Paris to provide additional security for its athletes and Olympic officials.