- Man arrested over suspected French railway vandalism
- The suspect, described as an “ultra-left militant,” was found with keys to technical premises, pliers, universal keys, and literature linked to the ultra-left
- He is currently being questioned by police in Rouen
- There is no current evidence linking the man to the recent suspected arson attacks on railway lines ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony
Man arrested over suspected French railway vandalism
A 28-year-old man was arrested in northwest France on Sunday after being found acting suspiciously near a railway site, French media report. The suspect, described as an “ultra-left militant,” was found with keys to technical premises, pliers, universal keys, and literature linked to the ultra-left. He is currently being questioned by police in Rouen.
There is no current evidence linking the man to the recent suspected arson attacks on railway lines, which disrupted high-speed TGV services ahead of the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony. These acts of sabotage significantly affected travel across France, with 250,000 passengers impacted on Friday alone.
France’s Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, stated that the authorities had identified several profiles of potential suspects. He said that the sabotage methods used were characteristic of the ultra-left, suggesting a political motive behind the actions. Darmanin hinted at the possibility of internal assistance within the national rail operator, SNCF, given the precise targeting of three major lines.
Additionally, French media reported the cutting of fibre optic cables in six locations, causing isolated outages, although it remains unclear if this incident is connected to the railway sabotage. No group has claimed responsibility for either act.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete confirmed that train services had resumed normal operations after extensive repairs. He emphasised that substantial resources, including drones and police helicopters, were being used to secure France’s extensive railway network. The sabotage is estimated to have caused several million euros in damages.