Fibre optic networks ‘sabotaged’ in parts of France

The fibre optic networks of several telecommunications operators have been “sabotaged” in six areas of France but Paris is not affected, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred three days after coordinated acts of sabotage paralysed high-speed train services hours before the Olympics opening ceremony, disrupting travel for hundreds of thousands of people.

This comes in the wake of coordinated attacks that significantly disrupted France’s high-speed train network just days before the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Over the weekend, repairs were carried out, and the network gradually resumed normal operations. Transport minister Patrice Vergriete stated that while the attacks impacted 800,000 travellers, “in the end 700,000 were able to make their trips,” with only 100,000 being affected by train cancellations.

Following the attacks, security measures have been heightened along the 28,000-kilometre (17,400-mile) high-speed train network, with the deployment of 50 drones, 250 rail security agents, and 1,000 maintenance workers, as confirmed by the minister.