the rail company sncf said it included arson attacks and was an attempt to paralyse the network.urostar operating trains from london to paris called it a coordinated act of malice. tonight's ceremony will see athletes carried on boats on the river sun in front of 20,000 spectators. the scene live at a railway station in paris —— on the river seine. sncf has said the high—speed rail network has been targeted by what it has cooled malicious acts aimed at paralysing the system, we understand several high—speed tgv lines have been hit at the west, north and east of paris and queues forming at gare montparnasse serving the west of the capital. the transport minister in france a short time ago strongly condemned what he called criminal acts that he said would affect people's holiday plans. a number of trains have been cancelled and sncf has said the situation could last a while repairs are conducted. the sports minister described the attacks appalling and said the impact on the public and olympic athletes was being assessed. we know more than 300,000 spectators are expected in paris to

thank you very much, sncf, for example. thank you very much. frank- _ sncf, for example.y much, frank. frank's— sncf, for example. thank you very much, frank. frank's analysis - sncf, for example. thank you very much, frank. frank's analysis of i much, frank. frank's analysis of what has gone on has just popped up on the live page on the bbc website if you would like to read a little bit more about what frank is saying about this. i think amy is pummelling the east coast of china with heavy reigns and strong winds from the most powerful storm to hit the country this year. chinese authorities said to have a —— have evacuated hundreds of thousands of people. the storm made landfall on the live mainland on thursday after severely affecting taiwan and the philippines. public transport offices, schools and markets have been shot in some areas as the storm continues to sweep across land. let's speak now tour correspondent, martin. talk to us about the impact now that typhoon gaemi is on mainland china. it has: gaemi is on mainland china. it has made a second _ gaemi is on mainl

are you in touch with the sncf _ definitely one.he sncf on _ definitely one. are you in touch with the sncf on the _ definitely one. are you in touch with the sncf on the train - definitely one. are you in touch - with the sncf on the train operators at the moment? is there any kind of cooperation between the ioc and the train operators? mat cooperation between the ioc and the train operators?— train operators? not directly, but throu~h train operators? not directly, but through the _ train operators? not directly, but through the organising _ train operators? not directly, but i through the organising committees, we have a superb relationship, so we are being kept appraised. the first thing we heard very quickly this morning is that the works on the train tracks, east, west, and north, were very quick with teams on board to make the traffic could resume, albeit at slower pace, very quickly we were informed, and that is the way it should be. at the montparnasse station in paris, the tgv atlantique director, franck duburdieu, has giv

rail company sncf says it has been aimed at paralysing the network. the rail authorities that hundreds of thousand, 800,000 customers will be affected over the weekend. work is under way to try and fix the damage done by fires being set in several railway lines into and out of paris. stay with us here on bbc news for the latest. hello. while some of us stay dry and sunny this friday, for others, there have been a few downpours already, some more to come through today. and then other areas will see the showers tomorrow. but the overall trend over the next five days, things become drier, sunnier and also warmer. now, the view from space earlier in the day shows that this is cloud from yesterday, but that's affecting northern france — that's crucial later. this is the clump of cloud that will affect us through tomorrow. but in—between, a lot of clear skies around to begin with. we've seen the shower clouds build up, but in—between, the shower clouds some sunshine. showers most frequent through parts of scotland, northern ireland and maybe less so in nort

are you in touch with the sncf orthe one. are you in touch with the sncf or the train — one.he sncf or the train operators _ one. are you in touch with the sncf or the train operators at _ one. are you in touch with the sncf or the train operators at the - or the train operators at the moment, is there any kind of communication between the ioc and the train operators? triat communication between the ioc and the train operators?— the train operators? not directly, but through _ the train operators? not directly, but through the _ the train operators? not directly, but through the organising - but through the organising committees, we have a superb relationship. so we are being kept appraised of the progress. the first thing we heard very quickly this morning as the works on the train tracks both east, west and north were very quick, with teams on board to make sure the traffic would resume. although at a slower pace. but yes, very quickly, we were informed and that is how it should be, they are the entry point for us. that was christophe dubi, executive director of the interna

are you in touch with the sncf of the train | touch with the sncf of the train operators at the moment any kind of communication between the ioc and the train operators? hal the ioc and the train operators? not directl , the ioc and the train operators? iifrt directly, but through the organising committees, we have a superb relationship, so we are being kept appraised, the first thing we had very quickly this morning is that he works on the train tracks, east, west, and north, were very quick with teams on board to make sure the traffic could resume, albeit at slower pace, but yes, very we were informed by the organising committees, and that is the way it should be, they are the entry point for us. . . ., ., for us. the executive director of the games _ for us. the executive director of the games there, _ for us. the executive director of the games there, talking - for us. the executive director of the games there, talking to - for us. the executive director of the games there, talking to me| for us. the executive director of- the games there, talking to me about the games there, talki

sncf said it was a massive attack aimed at paralysing network. story. you�*re watching bbc news. assisted dying campaigners say they�*re optimistic a change in the law could come soon as a private members bill on the issue has its first reading in the house of lords later. it�*s the latest in a long line of attempts to give terminally ill people the right to end their lives in england and wales. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh reports. this is an issue which provokes passionate debate. this demonstration was in 2015, on the day mps voted overwhelmingly to reject a bill to allow assisted dying in england and wales. a lot has changed here in the past nine years, not least in the commons. there are 335 first—time mps at westminster. and, crucially, the new prime minister, sir keir starmer, has given his support for a change in the law, although mps will get a free vote on what is a matter of conscience. so what will they vote on? the bill would allow mentally competent, terminally ill adults, with less than six months to live, the right to an assist

we are working closely with our partner sncf to assess the situation.ncerned because there is a huge security operation anyway under way here in paris on the six kilometre stretch of the river that will play host to the opening ceremony. an opening ceremony like no other. the first to take place outside of the stadium. it was already going to be an incredibly difficult event to stay secure. 45,000 security personnel on the streets of paris guarding the border. there is almost like a ring of steel around the river right now, with miles of metal fencing, checkpoints and police checking qr codes to allow people to move around. this will put authorities on alert. it is not something that they will not be prepared for. we heard president macron talking about security difficulties that that might entail. he said we have intent —— contingency plans in place. there is no indication that that is the case just yet. paris 2024 are monitoring the situation and i will be hoping that this opening event can flow freely when it gets under way and few hours. an unpreced

we are working closely with the partner sncf to assess the situation.und to be concerned because there is a huge security operation anyway under way here in paris particularly focused around the river seine and that six kilometre stretch of the river that will play host to the opening ceremony, an opening ceremony like no other, the first to take place outside a stadium. it was already going to be an incredibly difficult event to police and secure. 45,000 security personnel are on the streets of paris guarding that border, there is almost like a ring of steel around the river right now with miles of metal fencing, checkpoints and police checking qr codes to allow people to move around. so this will i think put authorities on alert, but it's not something that they won't be prepared for. last year we had president macron talk about the opening ceremony and the security difficulty is that it might entail. he said we have contingency plans in place, plan a, b and c should we need to do that. there is no indication that is the case just yet. paris 2024 are

it is being called a sabotage on the sncf high—speed railway network.he network. the french transport minister has condemned the attacks is coordinated and malicious attacks. hundreds of thousands of people are impacted today. some quarter of a million people will be impacted today. 800,000 people over the weekend. these are pictures from northern france of people trying to fix the railway line there. the cables that have been impacted. the french sports minister has labelled the acts of sabotage on the network as an act of the athletes�*s games. the transport minister sent these games are for the athletes who have been dreaming of them for years and have been fighting for the holy grail of standing on the podium and somebody has sabotage that for them. she said the games have been prepared so carefully for almost ten years. there is a huge security operation throughout paris with some 70,000 police and soldiers deployed. security experts to keep the game safe. the opening ceremony tonight along six kilometres of the river zen with 300,000 people expect

the ceo of sncf has said it was france and the french people who were attacked today. head to other parts of the country. he said those who will leave in worse condition, they will be impacted and it will last the whole weekend because it'll take a long time to fix. he has called it a day of sadness. he said the job of the railways is a public service to transport people when they need it. and today we can't do it.

well, according to the sncf, it is because — well, according to the sncf, it is because these fires affected pass on safety information to the drivers. it is going _ information to the drivers. it is going to — information to the drivers. it is going to take days and hundreds of workers _ going to take days and hundreds of workers to— going to take days and hundreds of workers to fix these cables one by one, _ workers to fix these cables one by one. and — workers to fix these cables one by one. and it — workers to fix these cables one by one, and it is going to take a huge concerted — one, and it is going to take a huge concerted effort. now, it is also affecting — concerted effort. now, it is also affecting the eurostar, it has already— affecting the eurostar, it has already been announced that won in four traihs _ already been announced that won in four trains will be cancelled today, and it _ four trains will be cancelled today, and it expects this to happen on saturday— and it expects this to happen on saturday and sunday as well, so this will affect _ saturday and sunday as well, so thi

by then, the french rail company sncf say 800,000 people will have been affected, not to mention theawkins, bbc news. the investigation continues by french authorities. i asked our security correspondent, gordon corera, what we know about who might be responsible for the attacks. the indications are that it could be a number of different actors but they are clearly being cautious while the investigation goes on. it was a sophisticated, well thought through attack, they knew exactly where they were going for, the points where the railway split to make maximum damage, suggesting a level of planning and inside knowledge. it is also noticeable that there is not a huge amount of security around the games, tens of thousands of police in paris where you are, but those people who carried out those arson attacks, that act of sabotage went around that act of sabotage went around that by going to pretty remote sites where they knew these train cables, communication cables were. significant disruption, one of the groups behind it fled, but it does not appear that anyone has yet been arrested. ba

the state owned sncf says its services were the victim of what it called a massive attack, which they say was aimed at paralysing the network. that led to queues at several stations this morning, including montparnasse and gardena. the company is warning the situation could last all weekend while repairs are conducted. the french transport minister has condemned what he called criminal actions. in other news, the family at the centre of a video that appears to show a greater manchester police officer kicking a suspect in the head, say they've been left deeply traumatised . left deeply traumatised. justice, no peace, no racist police. okay, hundreds of people were seen protesting outside mayor andy burnham's office, accusing greater manchester police of racism. it's after three officers were seriously injured as they attended to reports of an assault in the manchester airport car park, which happened before the event. seenin which happened before the event. seen in the video that included a female officer who suffered a broken nose. four men were arrested on suspicion of assault and af

the state owned sncf says its services were the victim of what it called a massive attack, which they say was aimed at paralysing the network. footage can be seen of team gb athletes also being caught up in the delays, catching the eurostar . the catching the eurostar. the family at the centre of a video that appears to show a greater manchester police officer kicking a suspect in the head, are appealing for calm, justice and peace . and peace. >> no racist police . >> no racist police. >> no racist police. >> hundreds of people were seen protesting outside mayor andy burnham's office, accusing greater manchester police of racism. this after three officers were seriously injured as they attended to reports of an assault in the manchester airport car park , which happened airport car park, which happened before the event. seen in the video that included a female police officer who suffered a broken nose. four men were arrested on suspicion of assault and affray, and the police watchdog has launched an investigation. retired scotland yard detective mike neville told gb news that those s

these attacks have taken place on three of the state run railway lines owned by the sncf sc at sncf over overnight, as you said, we're hearing between 200 and 5,800,000 people will be affected. there are asking people if they don't need to travel, please do not travel we're seeing pictures on social media of people, thousands of people really gathering at stations. there trains have been canceled that their plans have been impacted, but it's not just the domestic network. we have had news from eurostar, of course, the high-speed line that connects great britain here with paris saying they're trains have been canceled, an affected the organizers of paris 2024 have long been saying that ticket's the greatest number of tickets aside from france have been sold from britain. many fans traveling here meant to be traveling here this morning. but the paris to lille section of the track has been affected. trains being diverted, its very much an emerging breaking news situation. we're continuing to follow, but we understand a news conference is set to be held aldean about half an hour's time by th

well, according to the sncf, it's because these fires affected conduits carrying multiple fibre—opticnformation to the drivers. it's going to take days and hundreds of workers to fix these cables one—by—one. and it's going to take a huge concerted effort. now it's also affecting the eurostar. it's already announced that one in four trains will be cancelled today, and it's expecting this to happen on saturday and sunday as well. so this is going to affect their operations through to monday. so let's go back to our map to try and understand why the eurostar is being affected. well, they use this line here from lille to paris. and because of this one attack here, it's going to affect all trains going each way. and so they have said that because of, in their words, these acts of vandalism, they're going to have to use the classic line. that's what they call it. and that's going to add an hour and a half ofjourney time for customers. now, there is a bigger picture here, and that's that the olympics are going on. the sports minister, amelie oudea—castera, has said "to play against the games

by then, the french rail company sncf say 800,000 people will have been affected, not to mention thevent. paul hawkins, bbc news. equestrian is under way — with the dressage event taking place at the palace of versailles today. the sport also made headlines in the lead up to these games — after gb athlete charlotte dujardin pulled out when a video emerged of her "excessively" whipping her horse. world horse welfare can comment on this. good to talk to you. thank you for joining us. first of all, before we talk about the events at the olympics, your reaction to what has happened to charlotte and what it tells us about where equestrian is right now, because it is in a bit of a difficult place? it right now, because it is in a bit of a difficult place?— a difficult place? it has certainly been a bad _ a difficult place? it has certainly been a bad few— a difficult place? it has certainly been a bad few days _ a difficult place? it has certainly been a bad few days and - a difficult place? it has certainly been a bad few days and we - hope the next few days change that narrative. certain

was hit by a string of arson attacks the nation's railway operator sncf, calling it sabotage. it's disrupting travel for 800,000. people. police say there is no direct threat to the games. niners fans, it's almost here the first preseason game is now less than a few weeks away and today fans will get another up close. look at the 2024 squad. it's the second open practice of training camp, drawing thousands of fans to santa clara. well these days, the players aren't just role models for young boys. boys, but also young girls, and they aren't sticking to the sidelines. premieres. ramirez introduces us to one young lady, one female fan who is taking the football field by storm. >>>when the stars of the 40 niners took the field and santa clara. 14 year old isis choudhury was taking notes on everything she >>>>saw. the rough, liz. i like the competitive i like. i like the running. i like the place. i like just seeing the ball and then catching >>>it, but she's not just a football spectator. isis is part of a new generation of female football. players. and last season she was the st

said it was unbanned. chief of sncf said it was unbanned .ch for a gang of lunatics. and when we know more, we'll give you more information . mark give you more information. mark white, thank you for joining us. always a pleasure. thank you . always a pleasure. thank you. now, the olympics will officially open later today. if all goes according to plan. let's cross to paris now. live and speak with our reporter, sophie reaper. sophie, welcome back to the show. the rain has finally stopped. the last time we had you on it was absolutely tipping it down. the gods, it seems, are in the favour of these olympics getting underway . these olympics getting underway. even if these malign agents aren't that river behind you? of course, sophie, that's where the ceremony is taking place in a couple of hours time. you've got ringside seats. tell us more. >> well, i said to you, didn't l, >> well, i said to you, didn't i, in the last hour, martin, that the rain had suddenly just started a deluge as we began our live and it's been exactly the same. all of a

by then, the french rail company sncf say 800,000 people will have been affected, not to mention thet sports event. paul hawkins, bbc news. back to last night's spectacular opening ceremony now though — earlier i spoke to victor le masne, the paris 0lympics' musical director and composer, who composed the official theme of these 0lympic and paralympic games and is director of music for all the ceremonies. my task is a musical director, so it's, let's say half is original compositions, total creation that i did, like a score for this opening ceremony. and the other half is to conceive a soundtrack of french music, but in its total diversity, as you said, it can be opera or it can be rap, it can be stuff with lady gaga. but about this iconic french singer called zizi jeanmaire or celine dion who's doing edith piaf, so there's a lot of plurality in what i do. celine dion last night, even from here, i could hear the roar of the crowd. it was such an amazing moment to have an icon like her on an iconic monument. 0n the torre eiffel singing in that way. did you get chills in that moment as

while the sncf, the national company of the french railways, say they are slowly resuming high speedble to the west, the southwest and between paris, lille and strasbourg, they have warned that disruptions will last all weekend. in the meantime, we'll continue to monitor the situation here at bbc verify. let's show you some pictures we have coming in from let's show you some pictures we have coming infrom paris, and let's show you some pictures we have coming in from paris, and this is the opening ceremony, these are delayed pictures, just to warn you there might be some flashing images that you will see on your screen, so we understand the ceremony is still under way there in paris, injusta ceremony is still under way there in paris, in just a few moments, the expectation is that the olympic flame will officially be lit there in the city. the ceremony has been happening for several hours this evening, and as we mentioned, earlier, we had the regatta, this show, 85 boats sailing along the river seine earlier with different teams from around the world there in paris, so these are some

now, the sncf, a french rail network, said that this had affected areas the north, the east and the westparis, that there was attempts as well in there was attempts as well in the southeast, but that attempt was foiled. now hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by this damage caused to the high speed rail network, with the knock on effect, of course, also being faced by people in the uk. now. there was concerns about team gb athletes making it over, but in the last couple of hours we have heard from team gb and they've confirmed that although there were two athletes making their way over today, that they both arrived safely here in paris this morning. so there will be no disruption to team gb's athletes. however, when it comes to fans , they may find a to fans, they may find a different story waiting for them , different story waiting for them, of course. knock on on the eurostar, knock on dan in dover. i imagine our airports will be facing a flux of passengers attempting to board their flights over to paris, especially those who will be seeing events over this weekend. they

the rail company sncf says some 800,000 customers will be affected, with destruction i was expected all

the sncf, the french railway network, have said that this was a targeted arson attack.cted. people are being turned away from gardner, the rail station here in paris, people . there are huge queues people. there are huge queues forming at montparnasse as well. we've also just heard in the last few moments that the eurostar, several of those have been cancelled into paris, as well as many of them also being delayed. so this is going to have a huge, huge impact across the board . it's the last thing the board. it's the last thing that the french olympic committee would have wanted with ahead of the opening ceremony. taking place here tonight, but this is just one blip so far. who knows how many will see before the olympic ceremony starts at 630 french time tonight, but it's not all doom and gloom. of course. this is the olympics. after all. it's an incredible show. it's a spectacular performance they're expecting to see tonight. those 10,500 athletes will make their way down the scene here to the eiffel tower. and the trocadero, where the olympics will officially be launc

the rail company sncf said it included arson attacks and was an attempt to paralyse the network.

and so the sncf, the national rail operator , estimates the damage operator, estimates the damage ins of pounds, and so it was a very serious attack. and the interior minister says that suspicion , the suspicion is that suspicion, the suspicion is growing that these were far left groups behind it. growing that these were far left groups behind it . why? because groups behind it. why? because of the modus operandi, he said, and also because far left groups have attacked rail infrastructure in france in the past . so put those things past. so put those things together . and the supposition at together. and the supposition at the moment, the working hypothesis, if you like , is, is hypothesis, if you like, is, is that it was the work of far leftists, >> david, people outside of france will obviously be very familiar with the problem of islamist extremism, in france. but how much of a problem is far left extremism, particularly far left extremism, particularly far left extremism, particularly far left extremism, that is willing to cross the boundary of the law and, as you say, detonating