After arson attacks during the Olympic Games in France: communication lines damaged

PARIS (AP) — The French government says numerous telecommunications lines have been damaged by vandalism, including fiber optic lines and fixed and mobile lines, as many French cities host events related to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The extent of the impact is unclear, as is whether it has affected any Olympic activities. The vandalism came after arson attacks on railway lines across France on Friday, hours before the Olympics opening ceremony.

Marina Ferrari, Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, posted on X that damage had affected telecommunications providers in several regions during the night from Sunday to Monday. She said that this had led to local disruptions to access to fiber optic lines as well as fixed and mobile connections.

The organizers of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris initially declined to comment.

A French police official said at least six French administrative departments were affected, including the region around the Mediterranean city of Marseille, which is hosting Olympic football and sailing competitions.

Telecommunications operators Bouygues and Free confirmed that their services were affected.

According to French media reports, lines operated by provider SFR were also affected. Free’s parent company said its teams were mobilized to restore services.

A nationwide investigation is currently underway into last week’s train sabotage, which disrupted the travel of nearly a million passengers in France, as well as in London and other neighboring countries. Train services largely resumed on Monday.

French media reported that a far-left activist was arrested at a railway facility in the western French region of Seine-Maritime on Sunday. However, the Paris prosecutor’s office said it had nothing to do with Friday’s incidents and that no one had been arrested so far as part of the national investigation into the arson attacks.