A passenger train derailed after a piece of rail was found on the tracks, leaving 44 people injured and prompting police to investigate whether the crash may have been deliberate.
The train was traveling from Rouen to Caen in northwestern France when it derailed near the town of Cléon. Emergency crews responded to the scene after several train carriages came off the tracks.
Authorities said 44 people were injured in the incident. One of them, an 18-year-old woman, suffered critical injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The other injuries were reported to be less serious.
Investigators are examining a piece of rail that was discovered on the tracks near the derailment site. The discovery has raised concerns that someone may have intentionally interfered with the railway, although police have not confirmed that sabotage was the cause.
The derailment happened on a regional passenger service, and the crash caused major disruption to rail operations in the area. Emergency personnel worked to assist passengers and secure the scene while investigators began collecting evidence.
Police are now trying to determine how the rail piece ended up on the tracks and whether it was connected to the derailment. Officials have not announced any arrests in connection with the incident.
Authorities are treating the case as an active investigation, and the possibility of deliberate interference remains only one line of inquiry at this stage. Investigators are expected to examine the track, train records and other evidence as they work to establish what happened before the derailment.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about railway safety as passengers and officials await more answers about how the train came off the tracks.