SHOW WILL GO ON Paris railway line attacks will NOT stop Olympics opening ceremony despite co-ordinated assault, insists city mayor

 THE historic Olympics opening ceremony will go ahead as planned despite Paris being thrown into chaos after severe railway attacks, insists city mayor.

The capital's mayor, Anne Hidalgo, has vowed to fight back against the "unacceptable" sabotage that has crippled rail lines across France today after suspected co-ordinated arson attacks.

Railway employees and French gendarmes inspect the scene of an arson attack at Croiselles, France
10
Railway employees and French gendarmes inspect the scene of an arson attack at Croiselles, FranceCredit: AFP
Passengers have been left filling up platforms at the Gare Du Nord train station in Paris, France, after attacks plunged the city into chaos
10
Passengers have been left filling up platforms at the Gare Du Nord train station in Paris, France, after attacks plunged the city into chaosCredit: PA
Travellers were made to evacuate the Basel-Mulhouse airport over a suspected bomb threat
10
Travellers were made to evacuate the Basel-Mulhouse airport over a suspected bomb threatCredit: X
Passengers gather around the departure boards at the Gare Montparnasse train station
10
Passengers gather around the departure boards at the Gare Montparnasse train stationCredit: AFP
Soldiers have been patrolling Paris ahead of the opening ceremony
10
Soldiers have been patrolling Paris ahead of the opening ceremonyCredit: Getty
10

Moments after the planned assaults, Olympics bosses reportedly held an emergency meeting to discuss the frenzied strikes.

Games insiders have remained adamant that, despite swirling rumours, there are no changes to tonight's plans.

Mayor Hidalgo confirmed this as she revealed after a meeting with Spain's King Felipe VI that the attacks will have "no impact on the ceremony".

She added there has been "no effect on the transport network" in the French capital with floods of people still expected to fill up the banks of the Seine.However, a whopping 800,000 people passengers are set to be affected across the weekend with 250,000 set to be hit today.

Basel-Mulhouse airport, near the Swiss border, was even forced to be evacuated after a suspected bomb threat plunged the aviation hub into a frenzy.

This led to Air France saying its flights were grounded due to the threat.

Crowds are also growing at major Paris stations such as Gare Montparnasse, with one Parisian saying it was a "nightmare".A French railway operator has told all passengers to postpone their trips and avoid going to the station.A French railway operator has told all passengers to postpone their trips and avoid going to the station.

As a pair of trains carrying Olympics athletes have even been stopped with them both being related to the coordinated sabotages, the SNCF reportsEurostar trains between London and Paris have also been badly affected - with thousands of Brits being told to not travel today.

One in four journeys will be cancelled on Friday with a similar number begin axed over the weekend, the company announced.

The operator said it was facing issues with its overhead power supply in France following the attacks.

Brits who do decide to make the trip from St Pancras will face an extra hour of travel time with their train having to take a longer route.

A last-minute cancellation of a press conference sparked rumours the opening ceremony might be cancelled earlier today.

Just 45 minutes before creative directors Thomas Jolly and Thierry Reboul were due to give a briefing to international reporters at the Palais de Congres, reporters had a WhatsApp message drop calling it off.

The message read: “Paris 2024 is sorry to inform you that this morning’s press conference is cancelled.

“We wish you a good day, fantastic Games and remain available to answer your questions.”

Games officials then refused to give any details, which led to a frenzy of speculation that the abrupt change of plans was related to the overnight vandalism incidents that have paralysed the French train network.

Paris is also set to be hit by bad weather tonight, with the forecast predicting showers just as the ceremony will take place.

Unlike previous Games, which have culminated in the Olympic flame being lit in the main athletics stadium, Paris will see a flotilla of boats travel along the Seine through the heart of the city.

But an hour after the initial message, it emerged that Jolly and Reboul have been summoned to attend an emergency meeting to make last minute changes to the ceremony.

The chaos comes with Paris already on high alert ahead of the global event.

The Games is set to be the most guarded of all time with a force of 60,000 cops and soldiers to be backed up by drones, helicopters and AI surveillance.

French officials have claimed the mammoth security operation is triple the size of that rolled out for London 2012.

On-the-ground troops will be made up of 45,000 cops and 18,000 soldiers in the biggest deployment France has seen since the Second World War.Organisers have gone to the great lengths to secure the Games amid the sceptre of a possible terrorist attack and unruly protests.

France was already in a state of high alert with tensions boiling following the election.

Armed cops are on high alert for any more trouble in the coming hours
10
Armed cops are on high alert for any more trouble in the coming hoursCredit: Getty
Paris was already on high alert before the rail anarchy
10
Paris was already on high alert before the rail anarchyCredit: Getty
Damaged cables were found near Courtalain, about 90 miles south west of Paris
10
Damaged cables were found near Courtalain, about 90 miles south west of Paris

No comments:

Powered by Blogger.