Telecom networks in France disrupted by acts of sabotage, police arrest far-left activist for SNCF case

By Hafsa Alami

PARIS (AA) - Following Friday's sabotage targeting railway networks, France's fiber optic infrastructure faced multiple acts of vandalism on Monday morning.

The incidents mainly affected installations belonging to the phone operators SFR and Bouygues, impacting at least six departments across the country, according to police.

"Cables were cut in electrical cabinets of these companies in Herault, Bouches-du-Rhone, Oise, Meuse, Drome and Aude,” a police source told local media.

Landlines are said to be more affected than mobile lines, while the extent of the damage is not yet known and no one has claimed responsibility.

An investigation was launched after a fire broke out at a relay antenna near Toulouse. The prosecution is looking into an anti-Olympic “ultra-left” claim as a “NO Olympics” tag was found near the scene of the fire.”

After three days of sabotage on the public railway company SNCF network, which occurred on the day of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, French police arrested a far-left activist on Sunday.

The 29-year-old activist was known to territorial intelligence for his membership in the far-left movement, and the police found elements suggesting that he could be planning to commit acts of vandalism, and he was taken into custody in Rouen.

The man had a “set of universal keys”, “cutting pliers” and “access key to SNCF technical premises.” He also had literature books related to the far-left, according to a source close to the case.

At 4 a.m (0200GMT) last Friday, fiber optic cables running near the tracks and ensuring the transmission of safety information for drivers were cut and set on fire at various strategic points in Croisilles (LGV Nord) and Pagny-Sur-Moselle (LGV Est) and Courtalain (LGV Atlantique).

The public railway company SNCF announced on Sunday that the repair work was "completely finished" and that there would be "no further disruption" for passengers starting from Monday.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete assured that "all trains" on the French high-speed rail network were running "normally" on Monday morning.