Suspected ‘pro-Brexit’ sabotage attempt on railways
Police investigating two ‘malicious’ devices bearing anti-EU slogans left on train tracks
Authorities have opened an investigation over a suspected pro-Brexit sabotage attempt on the UK rail network.
The British Transport Police (BTP) said two “malicious obstructions” were left on tracks near Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, on 21 March and at Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, on 27 March.
Printed messages on the devices bore the slogans “Government betrayal. Leave means leave” and “We will bring this country to its knees if we don’t leave”, reports The Guardian.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw, one of the devices was spotted by a train driver, while the other is believed to have been found during a routine track search.
Inside sources told The Guardian that the devices were designed to disrupt circuitry used on train tracks but failed. Whoever made the sabotage attempt is believed to have had knowledge of how train tracks work, leading to speculation that they may be connected to the rail industry.
The devices “were intended to disrupt safety systems on the line and falsely send signals to red, stopping trains”, says the newspaper. This would have necessitated manual inspection of the tracks, potentially causing hours of delays to passengers and freight.
BPT Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said: “This was a serious and deliberate attempt by someone to cause significant sabotage and disruption to Britain’s rail network.
“We’re currently keeping an open mind on why someone would put their life at risk to place these items on a live railway, however our early assessment has led us to believe it relates to Britain’s exit from the European Union.”
News of the investigation comes days after a pro-Brexit protestor caused the cancellation of all Eurostar trains out of London St Pancras over the weekend.
Terry Maher, 44, from north London, “carried a St George’s flag and ventured above the tracks of St Pancras station on Friday night, then spent some 12 hours in a stand-off with police”, says The Sun.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Was Georgia's election stolen?
Today's Big Question The incumbent Georgian Dream party seized a majority in the disputed poll, defying predictions
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Moldova backs joining EU in close vote marred by Russia
Speed Read The country's president was also pushed into a runoff election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why is Germany cracking down on migration?
Today's Big Question New border rules test the European Union
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published