France investigates possible sabotage after train derailment
French investigators are considering possible sabotage as the main theory behind a train derailment in northwestern France. Forty-four people were injured in the accident, which occurred on the evening of September 11. One of those injured, an 18-year-old woman, is in critical condition.
Sabotage theory
According to France 24, citing a police source, a piece of rail was found on the tracks. After that, law enforcement officers began considering the possibility of deliberate interference as the main line of investigation. The report does not name the final cause of the accident.
The train was carrying 186 passengers and was travelling between the Norman cities of Rouen and Caen. It derailed at about 19:45 on Friday, September 11.
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Assistance for victims and traffic on the line
Following the accident, authorities activated a mass-incident response plan. The operation involved 130 firefighters, five medical teams and 80 vehicles.
Rouen prosecutor Sébastien Gallois said that the train driver was tested for alcohol and drugs, and the test results were negative. SNCF Réseau, the operator of the French rail network, announced the suspension of traffic on the line. Power to the tracks was switched off so emergency services could work at the accident site.
