According to Israel, Iran is responsible for the recent sabotage of French railways, just before the Paris Olympics.
On Friday, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz claimed that the high-speed rail network attacks which brought traffic to a standstill before Paris’ 2024 Summer Olympics were planned and carried out by Iran.
“On X (formerly Twitter), Katz wrote that the plot to damage railway infrastructure throughout France before the Paris 2024 Olympics was devised and carried out under the sway of Iran’s axis of evil and radical Islam.”
“I informed French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne that Israel possesses information indicating that Iranian terrorists are planning to attack the Israeli delegation and all Olympic participants,” Katz stated.
He wrote that more preventative measures are necessary to stop their scheme.
On Friday, the SNCF, which is France’s national railway operator revealed that signal boxes connecting Paris to various important cities including Lille, Bordeaux and Strasbourg were deliberately set on fire by arsonists. This “massive attack” caused a disruption in traffic prior to the games resulting in delays and cancellations affecting as many as 800000 passengers over the weekend according to the operator.
On Friday, French Premier Gabriel Attal asserted that the intentional damage inflicted on SNCF premises had been executed methodically and in tandem. In a message posted on X platform, he elaborated that security forces and law enforcement were actively pursuing those responsible for these malicious deeds.
Despite tensions surrounding the war in Gaza and pro-Palestinian protests, Sejourne assured that Israeli athletes are welcome to France. According to France 24, an enhanced police escort provided a 24-hour security detail for the Israeli delegation.
The Telegraph reports that Israel will send Shin Bet agents equipped with arms to Paris in order to offer extra protection for their athletes and Olympic representatives.
