French police are investigating whether sabotage caused a regional train to derail in Cleon, northwestern France, on Friday evening, an incident that left 44 people injured. The TER train was traveling from Rouen to Caen with 186 passengers on board when the accident occurred.
Investigators discovered a piece of rail on the tracks, which officials believe was likely responsible for the derailment. While authorities have not ruled out any possibilities, the Rouen prosecutor’s office confirmed that the presence of the object was suspicious and is being treated as a potential act of sabotage.
The impact caused one carriage to tip onto its side, while four others were derailed. Shattered windows and flying stones injured many aboard, according to Cleon Mayor Melanie Delacour, who described the victims as being in a state of shock.
Among the injured was an 18-year-old woman who was evacuated by helicopter and transported to Rouen University Hospital for treatment. The French national police communications service noted that the investigation would determine whether the circumstances were accidental or deliberate.
This event follows a history of significant rail incidents in France, including the 2013 Brétigny-sur-Orge derailment that killed seven, and a 2015 TGV test crash near Strasbourg that claimed 11 lives.
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