Netherlands: Sabotage paralyzes part of the railway network

AMSTERDAM, September 15 — Train services across large parts of central and northern Netherlands were halted this morning after the sabotage of railway lines.

Still-unidentified persons had placed pipes on the rails in several sections of the railway, said ProRail, the company that administers the rail network.

In total, pipes and similar materials were found in about 30 places.

A ProRail spokesperson told the Dutch news agency ANP that it was clear the pipes had been deliberately placed on the rails.

Because of them, the railway’s computer system received signals that the rails were blocked in those places and trains could not pass.

Prime Minister: Sabotage is a threat to life

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten called the acts of sabotage “life-threatening.”

According to him, the actions were aimed at “destabilizing society,” creating chaos and insecurity in the country.

However, Jetten said that at this stage it could not be determined whether it was terrorism.

According to him, the results of the police investigation must first be awaited before conclusions are drawn.

Police said that even after the rails were cleared in the morning, materials that could disrupt traffic were found again in some places.

However, according to ProRail, rail traffic had returned to normal around midday.

Dutch intelligence service assisting the investigation

Meanwhile, the AIVD, the Netherlands’ intelligence service, said it was assisting police in the investigation.

The main focus is to determine by whom and from where these actions came.

Asked whether there could be a terrorist motive, a spokesperson for the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) declined to comment.

According to him, the results of further investigations by ProRail, the police, and the prosecution must first be awaited.

Several lines fully halted

Rail traffic in the Zwolle area was fully halted for a period in the morning.

Initially, no trains ran on the Utrecht–Gouda line or on the Apeldoorn–Deventer line either.

However, a ProRail spokesperson said the situation was manageable and that the affected stations had slightly more people than usual.