Ankara: Farmer activists or their sympathizers are suspected of being behind the railway sabotage that caused significant disruptions to train traffic across the Netherlands on Tuesday, broadcaster NOS has reported. The incident has raised concerns over the safety and security of the nation's railway infrastructure.
According to Anadolu Agency, discussions regarding potential actions against the government have been taking place in online groups frequented by farmers and agricultural organizations. One source mentioned that the idea of sabotaging the railway was brought up in a local 'tractor group.' While a photograph of metal pipes placed on railway tracks circulated in several online groups, the source and location of the image remain unidentified.
Railway infrastructure manager ProRail reported 35 disruptions on Tuesday due to objects deliberately placed on the tracks. No group has claimed responsibility for the actions. Agractie, a farmer protest group, stated it had no knowledge of the sabotage, and Farmers Defence Force denied any involvement. However, its leader, Mark van den Oever, suggested that individual farmers might be behind the actions, and 'wildcat actions' were anticipated on that day.
LTO Nederland, representing agricultural and horticultural interests, condemned the sabotage, emphasizing that such actions do not align with the right to demonstrate. While police have not commented on potential suspects, the involvement of farmers or their sympathizers is one of the scenarios under investigation, as reported by NOS.
ProRail highlighted the life-threatening nature of the 'coordinated action,' noting that a train had hit an object near Steenwijk but had been forewarned and was traveling at reduced speed. In response to the incidents, ProRail announced plans to increase both camera surveillance and patrols from late Tuesday into early Wednesday.
The sabotage led to widespread train disruptions across the Netherlands on Tuesday. ProRail described the incident as unique, with materials deliberately placed on tracks found at multiple locations. The spokesperson for ProRail indicated that the disruptions had a 'nationwide impact,' affecting many areas due to the interconnected nature of the railway system.
ProRail spokesperson also noted malfunctions in the safety system at a minimum of 20 locations, causing a ripple effect on train operations. The exact locations of the sabotaged sections remain unidentified, necessitating thorough inspections to pinpoint and resolve the issues.