(Image source from: Apnews.com)

Hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, France's high-speed rail network was hit by fires and other "malicious acts" that paralyzed the transport system, rail operator SNCF said on Friday. A source close to the investigation told AFP that the attack was a coordinated "act of sabotage." “This is a large-scale attack aimed at crippling the TGV network,” SNCF told AFP. He added that many routes should be discontinued. “SNCF fell victim to multiple simultaneous malicious acts overnight,” the state rail operator said, adding that the attack affected its Atlantic, Northern and Eastern routes. The official said: "The arson attack has started and our facilities have been damaged." He added that traffic on the affected routes was significantly affected and the situation is expected to continue until the weekend due to repairs. Transport Minister Patrice Berglit said on Friday, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, that the "massive attack" on France's TGV high-speed rail network was an "outrageous crime". Vergliete said there would be a "very serious impact" on rail traffic over the bank holiday weekend as services to the north, east and northwest of France would be halved, and Jean-Pierre Farandeau, chief executive of rail operator SNCF, said the CEO said: There are 800,000 passengers. affected. Trains have been diverted to other routes, but “many trains will have to be canceled,” it said.

The southeast line was not affected as “the malicious act has been neutralized.” The SNCF asked passengers to postpone their journeys and avoid train stations. The attack came as Paris was under tight security ahead of the opening of the Summer Olympics, which was expected to draw 300,000 spectators and VIP spectators. Friday night's parade will see up to 7,500 participants sail six kilometers down the Seine in a fleet of 85 boats. It is the first time the Summer Olympics will begin outside the main athletics stadium and the decision comes at a time when France is on the highest alert level for terrorist attacks. Dozens of passengers waited at Paris' Montparnasse train station for more information about their journey after delays ranging from 30 minutes to nearly two hours were reported. One of the signs in the traffic hall read: “Normal traffic is expected to resume from Monday July 8th.” Jocelyn, a 27-year-old student who planned to travel to Brittany but refused , giving her full name, said: "I arrived around 7am and was told I might not be able to leave until Monday.""We expected riots in Paris at the opening ceremony tonight, but we didn't “I expected it to be this bad,” he said.