News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/28th July 2024
French officials have declared a state of heightened vigilance after large-scale arson attacks severely disrupted the nation’s rail network. The coordinated sabotage on the TGV high-speed network has raised concerns, particularly with the Paris Olympic Games’ opening ceremony on the horizon. Initially, suspicions pointed towards Russian involvement or far-left extremists, but French ministers have now emphasized that the country is on high alert.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete confirmed that France remains on guard as specialist anti-terrorist forces, who typically monitor political and environmental extremists, have launched an investigation into the attacks. In response to the heightened threat level, France has deployed a robust security presence, including 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents. This security detail includes snipers positioned on Parisian rooftops and drones monitoring from above.
Jean de Gliniasty, France’s former ambassador to Moscow, suggested that the country’s current conflict with Russia could be a factor, hinting that Russia might not be keen on seeing the Olympic Games succeed. Meanwhile, security services have indicated that the attacks’ nature—a systematic targeting of French railways—resembles tactics often employed by the ultra-left, according to sources cited by AFP.
A French government source also attributed the blame to the ultra-left and its radical environmentalist allies. However, international officials have pointed fingers at their own geopolitical adversaries. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz claimed the sabotage was orchestrated under the influence of Iran’s axis of evil and radical Islam. Katz warned of potential terrorist threats against the Israeli delegation and other Olympic participants, urging increased preventive measures.
French caretaker Prime Minister Gabriel Attal confirmed that intelligence services are actively working to identify and punish those responsible for these criminal acts. While urging against premature conclusions, Attal acknowledged that the perpetrators possessed detailed knowledge of France’s rail network.
Security expert Jonathan Masters, writing for the Council on Foreign Relations, indicated that French officials consider the primary threat to the games to be from an ISIS splinter group, Islamic State Khorasan (Isis-K). This group previously claimed responsibility for the Crocus City Hall attacks in Moscow, prompting French authorities to elevate their terror alert to the highest level, “attack emergency.”
German authorities have also conducted high-profile raids during Euro 2024 on individuals linked to ISIS, suspected of plotting attacks on venues and fan zones. In light of these events, France has maintained its highest terror alert level since the Moscow attacks.
Geopolitical risk expert Olivier Guitta echoed these concerns, predicting that jihadists might target either the Olympic Games or the European Championship. Masters added that French intelligence officers are focusing on building contacts within the country’s Central Asian migrant communities, considering the threat posed by Isis-K. Additionally, Paris is preparing for potential cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns that could originate from Russia or its affiliates. As France braces for the Olympic Games, the recent rail sabotage serves as a stark reminder of the persistent security challenges the nation faces. The combined efforts of law enforcement and intelligence services aim to safeguard the event and ensure the safety of all participants and spectators.
