France’s telecom network experienced widespread disruptions after vandals targeted several key installations across the nation. The incidents, which resulted in isolated outages affecting both landline and mobile services, have been denounced by Marina Ferrari, the junior minister for digital affairs. In a statement on social media platform X, Ferrari condemned the attacks as “cowardly and irresponsible,” and expressed gratitude to the repair teams working to restore service.
The vandalism comes on the heels of a significant law enforcement development: a far-left activist has been detained in connection with a series of attacks on France’s high-speed rail network. These attacks, which caused considerable travel disruptions ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, have been linked to far-left extremist groups, according to France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. The arrest was confirmed on Sunday in Seine-Maritime, Normandy.
Reports from French media outlets indicate that telecom installations operated by SFR and Bouygues Telecom were specifically targeted. Vandalism incidents included the cutting of cables in electrical cabinets in southern France, as well as attacks on installations in the Meuse region near Luxembourg and the Oise area close to Paris.
The connection between the telecom network vandalism and the recent rail attacks remains unclear. The rail attacks, carried out using explosive devices, damaged signal boxes along critical routes connecting Paris with major cities like Lille, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. A planned attack on the Paris-Marseille line was thwarted. The coordinated sabotage left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded, leading to severe disruptions in high-speed services and causing Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn to adjust their schedules.
Normal service only resumed on Monday morning after approximately 800,000 customers experienced significant disruptions.
Despite these challenges, the Paris Olympics opening ceremony proceeded with heightened security measures. Over 300,000 spectators attended the event along the River Seine, which featured a parade of athletes on barges and riverboats. France’s security forces mobilized an extensive contingent, including 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents. Snipers were stationed on rooftops, and drones provided aerial surveillance. However, while the capital was heavily secured, other regions of the country faced less stringent security measures.
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