Train Derailment in Northwestern France Suspected as Sabotage

Authorities suspect sabotage may have caused the derailment of a train in northwestern France, injuring 44 people. A piece of rail found on the tracks is believed to be linked to the incident.

The regional train, en route from Rouen to Caen, was carrying 186 passengers when it derailed on Friday evening in Cleon. The derailment resulted in one carriage tipping onto its side and four others leaving the tracks.

An 18-year-old woman was among the injured. She was evacuated by helicopter to Rouen University Hospital for treatment.

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A spokeswoman for the French national police communications service, known as SICOP, indicated that the rail piece was “probably” connected to the derailment. Her comments, made to The Associated Press, were anonymous due to police protocol.

Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois stated that the reasons behind the presence of the rail piece would need to be clarified by ongoing investigations. The prosecutor’s office has exercised caution in drawing any conclusions about whether the event was accidental or sabotage-related.

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Cleon Mayor Melanie Delacour expressed that the victims were “in a state of shock.” She described how the windows of upright carriages shattered and emphasized the dangerous impact of stones flying into carriages due to the train’s speed.

France has experienced previous rail disasters, including the Brétigny-sur-Orge derailment in July 2013 that led to seven deaths. In November 2015, a high-speed TGV train derailed during tests at Eckwersheim, near Strasbourg, claiming 11 lives. Most recently, a collision involving two high-speed trains in January resulted in 46 deaths and over 100 injuries in Adamuz, Spain.