Additional Coverage:
Authorities are investigating a suspected act of sabotage following a train derailment in northwestern France that injured 44 passengers. The incident occurred Friday evening in Cleon when a regional train traveling from Rouen to Caen carrying 186 people went off the tracks. One carriage overturned completely, while four others derailed.
Among the injured was an 18-year-old woman who was airlifted to Rouen University Hospital for treatment, according to local police reports.
A spokeswoman for the French national police communications service, speaking anonymously due to departmental protocol, confirmed that a piece of rail found on the track is likely connected to the derailment. Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois emphasized that the reasons behind the rail’s presence remain unknown and are under investigation.
Authorities are carefully examining whether the derailment was accidental or the result of deliberate sabotage. The prosecutor’s office has urged caution in drawing conclusions until the investigation progresses.
Cleon’s mayor, Melanie Delacour, described the victims as “in a state of shock,” noting that some carriage windows shattered and stones were hurled inside the train due to its speed.
This derailment recalls past rail tragedies in France, including the 2013 Brétigny-sur-Orge derailment that claimed seven lives, and the 2015 high-speed train accident near Strasbourg that resulted in 11 fatalities. Neighboring Spain also suffered a devastating train collision in January, which killed 46 and injured over 100 people.
As the investigation continues, authorities remain focused on uncovering the cause of this alarming incident to prevent further harm.