Several French fiber optic cables were cut overnight in what appears to be a coordinated sabotage effort, service providers and officials said. It’s the second attack on key French infrastructure in recent days, putting a spotlight on the country’s security as the nation hosts scores of athletes and fans for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The telecommunications operators were hit by the “major sabotage” around 2:15 a.m. local time, Nicolas Guillaume, CEO of service provider Netalis said on X.
“These attacks are not merely about causing inconvenience; they are acts of economic sabotage, aiming to undermine the stability and security of the host nation during this time of intense international focus,” Andy Thompson, an offensive cybersecurity expert at CyberArk, tells Fast Company. “The fact that these attacks come in the wake of large-scale arson attacks on the French rail system indicates a broader pattern of coordinated disruption.”
Paris, where most of the Olympic events are taking place, wasn’t impacted, according to French outlet Le Monde. The outlet added that the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into the incident.
“I condemn in the strongest terms these cowardly and irresponsible acts,” Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari said in a statement Monday.
The telecommunications attack follows coordinated arson attacks on France’s high-speed rail networks ahead of Friday’s Olympic opening ceremonies.
“The recent incidents underscore the need for heightened vigilance and robust security protocols to ensure that the infrastructure remains resilient in the face of threats,” Thompson says.