A Franco-Swiss airport was temporarily evacuated on Friday as a precaution following a series of arson attacks that disrupted the French rail network. The incidents occurred just days before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024. (More Sports News)
EuroAirport, situated on the French side of the border near Basel, resumed operations on Friday following a temporary closure. The airport was evacuated earlier in the day due to a security alert.
As flight schedules get back on track, travelers are adviced to reach out to their airlines to get the most recent update on their flights..
Basel-Mulhouse Airport shut down and cleared out people earlier because of "safety reasons." This event sparked worries about safety and security of Paris Olympics' 2024 opening ceremony, taking place on July 26 at the Seine River.
According to a report of The Guardian, Eurostar passengers who are traveling from London to Paris on Friday were advised to reschedule their journeys if possible.
Arson attacks on France's high-speed rail network have sparked countrywide travel chaos just hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
The authorities started working urgently to respond to the situation, whereby several trains were delayed or put out of the normal operations, hence disturbing travel plans. The police launched a manhunt for the people behind the chilly attack.
What Happened To France's Rail Network?
Coordinated fires hours before the opening ceremony disabled France's high-speed rail network on Friday. The assaults have been described by authorities as a "massive" attempt to paralyze the TGV network, with many routes canceled and widespread disruption caused, according to news agency AFP.
French rail operator SNCF warned that the situation would likely to be there throughout the weekend as repairs are underway.
According to AFP, French rail operator SNCF reported a series of coordinated attacks on its network. Three arson attacks targeting cabling boxes at crucial junctions north, southwest, and east of Paris caused significant damage.
A fourth attempt in the southeast was foiled by railway workers. The incidents overnight caused severe disruption to rail services.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal described the fires on the rail network as "prepared and co-ordinated acts of sabotage." He added that intelligence agencies and police work "already started" to identify and prosecute those responsible.
These attacks were against three major rail lines reaching Paris, aimed at disrupting high-speed train services while tainting the opening ceremony of Paris Olympics 2024.
Similarly, French Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete posted about the attacks saying, "Lakhs of people will likely be affected by the attacks. "Coordinated malicious acts targeted several TGV lines last night and will seriously disrupt traffic until this weekend".
How The Incident Impact The Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The unprecedented open-air setting of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony has significantly elevated security concerns. For the first time in the history of Olympics Games, the opening ceremony will be hosted outside a stadium.
This time the athletes will parade along the Seine River, passing iconic landmarks, making the event a high-profile target.
This will further involve global superstars like Lady Gaga and Celine Dion, which would increase the number of people who will converge at the event, thereby increasing the security risks for the authorities.
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony will be held Friday evening at 11:00 pm IST.
