French Prosecutor Rules Out Attack in Normandy Derailment

A passenger train carrying roughly 180 people derailed on Friday evening in northwestern France, injuring at least 44 passengers. French authorities have officially dismissed suspicions of terrorism or intentional sabotage following earlier political speculation surrounding the crash.

Investigation into the Cause

Sebastian Gallois, the public prosecutor of Rouen, stated on Saturday evening that evidence gathered from the scene showed no indication of a malicious act or a deliberate attempt to derail the train. The prosecutor’s clarification arrived after several politicians had publicly suggested earlier in the day that criminal interference might have caused the disaster.

A police spokesperson stated that the train went off the tracks after striking an unidentified object. According to police reports, investigators subsequently located a piece of rail on the track that may have been involved in the collision.

Casualties and Emergency Response

The derailment took place around 7:30 p.m. local time near the municipalities of Cléon and Tourville-la-Rivière, along a line connecting the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen.

Among the at least 44 injured individuals, an 18-year-old woman suffered critical injuries and was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Rouen. Local authorities later stated that her medical condition had improved in the hours following the incident.

French Transport Minister Tabarot confirmed that 140 firefighters were dispatched to the site to care for victims and assist with emergency rescue operations.

Service Disruptions

In the aftermath of the crash, national rail infrastructure manager SNCF Réseau suspended all traffic along the impacted railway line.

In a public statement, SNCF Réseau emphasized that “The priority is to care for the passengers and then to restore safe operating conditions.” Transit on the line remains halted while authorities complete emergency care and work to secure the tracks for future passage.

Background

The rail corridor between Rouen and Caen forms a vital transport connection across Normandy in northwestern France. French national rail operator SNCF handles millions of regional passenger journeys across the country each year, with safety protocols heavily overseen by national transport authorities whenever major line disruptions or derailments occur.