The aftermath of a train derailment in northwestern France has left authorities grappling with a troubling mystery. The incident, which occurred on Friday between the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen, resulted in injuries to 44 passengers. As investigators work to piece together what happened, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has urged caution, stressing the need to pursue all leads without jumping to conclusions.
The train, carrying 186 passengers, derailed on Friday, leaving many badly shaken, officials said. According to prosecutors, a section of rail found on the track may have caused the derailment. Herve Morin, president of the Normandy region, said the rail fragment found on the tracks weighed around 300 kilograms. The possibility of foul play has been raised, notably by police sources and political figures, including Morin and Nice mayor Eric Ciotti.
However, authorities have sought to temper those suggestions. 'We must remain extremely cautious,' Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told broadcaster France 2 on Sunday, adding that authorities were pursuing all leads and 'none is being prioritised.' Nunez said that if the derailment turned out to be 'a malicious act, it would be extremely serious.'
Asked about a possible involvement of far-left groups, Nunez said such a scenario 'did not fit' their usual methods. 'They generally target signalling equipment,' he said, adding that 'they tend to avoid causing casualties.' A railway industry source, speaking to AFP on Sunday, said questions persisted over the presence of the rail section they said weighed around 300 to 350 kilograms.
The source said the track had been used 'an hour earlier by a train travelling in the same direction' and 'half an hour earlier by a train going the other way.' 'The driver of that train saw nothing, even though train crews are instructed to watch for and report anomalies,' the source said, adding there was no maintenance work at the site at the time. 'Early evidence suggests that whoever did this followed the train service's schedule to avoid being detected. There had to be several of them to move that section of track,' the source said.
Prosecutor Sebastien Gallois said on Saturday that it was not clear why the rail fragment was present on the tracks. The incident, already the subject of a judicial investigation, also prompted the opening of a technical inquiry, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said. As the investigation continues, authorities are committed to uncovering the truth behind this alarming incident, ensuring the safety and security of France's rail network.
