A train derailment in northwest France that resulted in 44 injuries is being investigated as a possible act of sabotage, according to a police source. The incident occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Friday while the train, carrying 186 passengers, was traveling between the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen.
Investigators discovered a fragment of rail on the track, which has led authorities to prioritize the possibility of a malicious act as their primary line of inquiry. In response to the crash, a mass-casualty response plan was activated, leading to the deployment of 130 firefighters, 80 vehicles, and five medical teams to the site.
Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois confirmed that 44 people were injured in the derailment. Among those affected, an 18-year-old woman was evacuated in critical condition. The prosecutor also noted that standard tests for drugs and alcohol performed on the train driver returned negative results.
SNCF Reseau, the manager of the French rail network, has suspended traffic on the affected line and cut power to the tracks to ensure the safety of emergency operations. Authorities continue to examine the scene and the circumstances surrounding the recovered rail fragment to determine the exact cause of the derailment.
