French-Swiss airport evacuated due to bomb threat ahead of Olympics

The Basel-Mulhouse air hub was shut down early on Friday, hours after sabotage disrupted the France’s high-speed rail network

An airport on the Franco-Swiss border was temporarily evacuated early on Friday, French media reported citing law enforcement. The Basel-Mulhouse EuroAirport is located on the French side of the border near the town of Basel.

The Haut-Rhin prefecture told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the facility had to be closed for security reasons following a bomb threat. It said authorities responded following standard procedures, with explosives experts deployed to the scene.

The air hub has since announced it operating normally again in a statement on its website.

“The airport has reopened and flight operations are gradually restarting. Passengers are requested to contact their airline for information about their flight,” the statement read.

The news comes as French authorities are investigating a series of arson attacks and cable thefts on the French high-speed train network TGV, which took place overnight on Thursday. Authorities have described the incidents as “acts of sabotage” ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony later on Friday.

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Travel was estimated to be disrupted for at least 800,000 people. According to the country’s state railway operator SNCF, a large number of trains had to be diverted or canceled, with traffic expected to be fully restored no sooner than Monday.

The 2024 Olympic Games will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11. The inauguration of the games on Friday is set to take place outside of a stadium for the first time on record, with the athletes parading in boats on the River Seine. Roughly 45,000 police and paramilitary officers, as well as 10,000 soldiers and 22,000 private security guards will be on duty during the opening ceremony, according to French media.