France's high-speed rail network was hit by "malicious acts" including arson attacks, disrupting traffic on the day of the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics, national railway operator SNCF said Friday.

Local media, quoting SNCF, reported that a massive attack was carried out in a bid to paralyze the TGV network from Thursday night to Friday and is expected to affect at least 800,000 people.

SNCF said repair work will continue into the weekend, adding that it will take a while for train services to return to normal.

Photo shows a crowded Gare du Nord train station in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Kyodo)

Friday's scheduled press conference on the opening ceremony has been canceled.

The ceremony is set to feature a boat parade by athletes along the Seine River. For the first time in Summer Olympics history, the opening ceremony will be held outside a stadium.

Extra anti-terrorism measures have gone into effect as more than 300,000 people, including world leaders, are expected to watch the ceremony from the riverbanks.

Earlier in the week, a Russian man was arrested by French police on suspicion of planning to destabilize the games.


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