Trains back at full capacity after France attacks

After the sabotage of the French rail network on the opening day of the Paris Olympics, high-speed trains in France were back in operation as planned this morning, it was announced. Transport Minister Patrice Vergrete told RTL radio that “all trains” were operating “normally” again. Rail traffic had already been widely reported to be back to normal the day before.

French railway company SNCF announced over the weekend that repair work was “completely completed,” and confirmed that there would be no disruption to train traffic as a result of the sabotage “as of Monday morning.”

On Friday night, unknown assailants set fire to facilities on several high-speed train lines. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks. High-speed lines connecting Paris to the west, north and east of the country were affected.

According to official figures, about 100,000 people were affected by train cancellations and 800,000 by delays.

Paris suspects left-wing extremists were behind the attack.

According to the government in Paris, the attacks were likely carried out by far-left forces. “We have identified the profiles of several people,” Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told France 2 television.

Police sources said this morning that a person from the far-left milieu had been arrested. The man was arrested yesterday in Oiselle, near Rouen in northern France, and is in police custody. However, police have not established a link between Friday's vandalism and the suspect.

News of sabotage of fiber optic cables

There were also reports earlier in the week of further acts of sabotage. Unknown individuals are said to have damaged fibre optic cables for several French internet service providers.

Police sources said Free and SFR were affected. Such acts of vandalism have occurred in six districts of the capital Paris, where the Olympic Games are currently being held, and were not affected.