Greece (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Paris Olympics were marred by a series of negative incidents, including widespread vandalism across the country. The acts of vandalism were intended to disrupt the smooth organization of the Games and hinder the movement of Olympic Fans within France.
A month later, Brussels Morning provides a detailed account of the total number and types of attacks, as well as the nature of the hybrid assault. Even the athletes were not spared from the delays and terrorist attacks. Two out of four trains carrying Olympic athletes to Paris on the western Atlantique high-speed line were halted.
The creativity of French Vandalism
Across the country, fires were set, electrical installations and railway infrastructure were sabotaged, and there were various telecommunications issues unrelated to the network strain caused by the influx of spectators in France for a short period. In a nation that welcomes millions of tourists year-round and ranks among the top five global destinations, it is remarkable how certain individuals, acting as lone wolf terrorists and vandals, managed to achieve so much success in causing widespread damage and disruptions.
The most significant incident during the Games might be considered an apparently unrelated event in which the Basel-Mulhouse airport in eastern France was briefly closed and evacuated due to a security alert. A bomb disposal team was deployed, according to local authorities.
Is Moscow behind the attacks?
When asked whether Russia could be involved, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera responded, “maybe,” but also noted that the attacks could have been domestically driven. She described them as “malicious acts.” French authorities have not yet identified who is responsible for planning and carrying out the arson attacks.
The reason for these suspicions is that French officials and cybersecurity experts in the U.S. and Europe have observed an increasing effort from Russia to destabilize France, particularly targeting the Olympic Games and President Emmanuel Macron, who is one of Europe’s most outspoken supporters of Ukraine. Other French officials said it is too early to determine if there is any Russian connection.
The telecoms attacks
The telecom attacks occurred just days after the French railway company SNCF reported that its infrastructure had been hit by “a massive attack aimed at paralyzing the network” overnight. Marina Ferrari, French Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, condemned these “cowardly and irresponsible acts” and expressed gratitude to the teams working to repair the damage and restore services.
Local reports indicated that connection lines belonging to France’s major telecom companies—SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Free—were vandalized. Vandals cut the long-distance network in five different parts of France, severed cables in electrical cabinets in southern France, and damaged installations in the Meuse region and the Oise area near Paris.
According to France Info, electrical and signal installations on high-speed lines heading north, east, and west out of Paris were deliberately set on fire.
The fundamental interests of the nation
Most indications suggest that responsibility for the attacks lies with a far-right paramilitary group rather than with Russian hackers, saboteurs, or spies. The Paris public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, announced that a formal investigation had been opened into “deliberate damage of property likely to harm the fundamental interests of the nation,” as well as into criminal conspiracy.
Who is responsible for the mess?
Given the numbers, it cannot be said that the French authorities failed to take the necessary measures or mobilize sufficient security forces to protect citizens, athletes, Olympic delegations, and spectators from around the world in Paris and other cities. Approximately 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers, and 2,000 private security agents have been deployed to secure the event, with snipers positioned on rooftops and drones patrolling from the air.
What remains unclear are the speculations about who is behind the attacks, with hints of propaganda and uncertainty. Maybe it was the Russians, maybe far-right elements, or perhaps the Wizard of Oz. Do the intelligence services not know? What about the local police or the communities? No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks? This is irrational and raises concerns about leadership, both at the political level and within the security forces.
Some vandals, criminals, and terrorists simply take pleasure in seeing the world burn.
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