French authorities arrested a 28-year-old individual on Sunday in north-west France, suspected of ultra-left militant activities. The arrest came after the individual was spotted behaving suspiciously near a railway site, prompting a search of their vehicle. The search uncovered various tools and literature linked to the ultra-left movement.
The suspect is currently being questioned by police in Rouen, but there is no indication of a direct connection to the recent coordinated arson attacks on railway lines ahead of the Paris Olympic Games. Those attacks, which paralyzed high-speed TGV lines and disrupted travel across France, are still under investigation.
On Monday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that investigators have identified several profiles of potential suspects and are making progress in the case. He noted that the methods used in the sabotage bear hallmarks of ultra-left tactics and suggested a political motive behind the attacks.
While stopping short of implicating France’s national rail operator SNCF, Darmanin observed that the targeted locations were “extremely specific” and likely required inside knowledge. He also mentioned that around 50 individuals were arrested before the Olympics for planning sabotage or radical protests.
In addition to the rail network damage, fiber optic cables were found cut in six locations across France, causing isolated outages. The connection between these incidents, if any, remains unclear.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but a security source suggested that the arson attacks bore the hallmarks of the extreme left. Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete reported that train services have resumed normal operations after urgent repairs and that considerable resources, including drones and police helicopters, have been deployed to enhance railway network security. The estimated cost of the sabotage is expected to be several million euros.
