OLYMPIC GAMES
Who is responsible for the Paris Olympic Games train attacks?
Travel services in the French capital have stalled after what is being described as an arson attack has hit the city’s train network.
Hours before the Olympic Games opening ceremony, France’s train networks have been vandalised in what authorities have called “coordinated and malicious sabotage”.
Cables which are used to ensure the security of the train drivers were taken apart and set on fire by vandals early in the morning of July 26, with the TGV, France’s high-speed rail service, the main mode of transport affected.
SNCF, the main French railways company, said that around 250,000 travellers could indeed be impacted today, but that number is expected to rise to about 800,000 across the weekend.
Will the Olympic Opening Ceremony go ahead after the train attacks?
At the time of writing, despite the transport disruptions, it seems that the Olympic Opening ceremony will go ahead.
Who is responsible for the sabotage?
At the time of writing, nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
However, France has not ruled out Russian interference in the attack, with Amélie Oudéa-Castera, the sports minister, saying that it “maybe” could be the case. She added: “It could also be protesters, even French people.”
Just a few days ago, a Russian man was arrested over fears he was preparing to disrupt the Games, with prosecutor’s office saying evidence was found that showed he was planning “events likely to lead to destabilisation during the Olympic Games”.