Arson attacks on the Olympic Games underline the growing threat of low-tech terrorism in public transport

As the Olympic torch was carried to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, flames of a special kind fearful the town's security chiefs. On the eve of the opening ceremony on July 26, a series of Arson attacks Traffic to the capital via the high-speed network was interrupted.

Fortunately, nobody was injured within the series of small fires that brought trains to a standstill on three major routes, nor has anyone claimed responsibility for the fires. But the incident brought a Security experts have long known in regards to the vulnerabilityTerrorist groups even have long seen passenger trains as attractive targets. Just just a few months before the incident in Paris al-Qaeda had advertised railway stations as potential targets.

As a defense researcher which deals with the way in which militant groups think and actI see the Paris incident as a stark warning. Terrorist groups have long used the rail network as a venue for attacks starting from “spectacular” – that’s, coordinated, simultaneous actions designed to cause maximum disruption, damage and panic – to less intrusive actions. The continued evolution of extremists' tactics poses a critical challenge to global security, particularly with regard to public transport. The rail networks that connect cities world wide remain particularly vulnerable to old and recent threats.

Low-tech attacks with big impact

The attacks in France haven’t only destroyed the physical infrastructure, they’ve also spread widespread fear and insecurity, especially provided that Paris is a city still scarred by the Remembering the recent terrorist attacks.

The authorities reacted quickly describe the arson attack as “criminal acts“ and never terrorism.

But they were clearly the results of sophisticated planning and a high degree of coordination. And some points of the attack in France reflect recent terrorist pondering.

Where Dec. 30, 2023, al-Qaida released a promotional video for the upcoming issue of its online magazine Inspire, with train stations as the main target of the destination.

The propaganda takes up the subject of weak points in rail transport again and promotes methods equivalent to arson. This indicates a strategic shift towards easy but effective attacks that may be carried out by individuals and disrupt every day life on a big scale.

This tactical shift shouldn’t be only a textbook example of chaos, but a psychological strategy aimed toward instilling fear and paralysis in tens of millions of commuters.

Trains are an emblem of routine and reliability. An attack on them can destroy this sense of on a regular basis security and spread an environment of fear and vulnerability.

Especially in Europe, the memories of such attacks are painful; Bombings on Madrid trains in 2004 192 people were killed and over 2,000 were injured. One yr later London bombings 2005 52 people were killed in a bus and a subway and over 700 were injured.

The timing and site of the arson attacks in Paris – just as the town was preparing for a world event, the Olympic Games – only heightens their impact, as their psychological reach goes far beyond the immediate physical damage.

The The economic consequences will also be devastatingThe immediate consequences include repair costs and increased safety expenses, however the broader economic disruptions – delays, lost tourism revenue and shaken investor confidence within the region's stability – may last long after the tracks are cleared.

Cities like Paris, which depend on their robust public transport systems, suffer significant economic setbacks from such attacks, which may slow economic activity and growth. The timing of the Paris incident meant that not only local commuters but additionally international visitors were affected, potentially having a ripple effect on global perceptions of safety at European transport hubs.

Maximizing damage and losses

Terrorist groups are well aware of the long-term impact of an attack on the rail network – this issue plays a outstanding role in terrorist propaganda.

For example, the seventeenth edition of al-Qaeda within the Arabian Peninsula Inspire Magazinepublished in August 2017, details a straightforward approach to derailing trains by placing obstacles on the tracks—a tactic that requires no advanced engineering skills, only a determination to cause chaos.

Inspire's strategic insights suggest attacking trains near critical structures equivalent to mountains, buildings, bridges or tunnels to maximise impact, damage and casualties. The magazine notes that “5.6 million passengers ride the New York subway every day and in France, 15,000 trains pass through 3,000 stations every day,” underscoring the intent to impress attacks on densely populated, high-impact targets.

Years after its publication, the August 2017 issue of Inspire continued to flow into, especially during major geopolitical events equivalent to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and that Israel-Hamas conflict.

And al-Qaeda continues to advertise Lone actors can perform attacks that may paralyze large urban centers by exploiting the widespread use of the proposed methods.

Rail systems are vulnerable

Rail networks are a beautiful goal for terrorists for several reasons. They are inherently accessible, often poorly secured, and may be densely populated. The very efficiency and openness that make urban rail systems the lifeblood of a city also makes them vulnerable to attack.

Furthermore, the potential for multiple casualties and significant media coverage be sure that even a small act can send shockwaves of repercussions each locally and internationally.

In the United States, the chance of violent extremist attacks on critical infrastructure stays alarmingly high. From 2016 to 2022, U.S. federal courts have 94 people charged with planning violent extremist attacks, 35 of which specifically targeted critical infrastructure. Notably, 19 of those individuals were jihadists related to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and al-Qaeda. And of the seven jihadist plans that affected transportation, five targeted mass transit and public rail.

Wake-up call

The attacks on the Paris railway lines needs to be a wake-up call.

The continued circulation of problems with Inspire magazine and the recent promoting campaign for al-Qaeda's “Open Source Jihad” campaign underscore a grim reality: the terrorist threat is evolving, developing recent types of low-tech tactics that exploit the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure equivalent to railways.

This development marks a big shift in terrorist strategy: they’re moving away from spectacular attacks that require large amounts of resources and towards simpler, more accessible types of disruption that anyone can perform without formal training or support networks.

The sabotage methods prescribed in terrorist propaganda are easy and never technically complex. Preventing such attacks is subsequently a challenge. But stopping these attacks is needed to make sure the security of the tens of millions of people that depend on public transport day-after-day.