Rail Network Paralyzed by Obstacle Attacks in the Netherlands; Perpetrators Unknown

[Financial News] Train services across the north-central Netherlands were paralyzed on the 15th local time following an attack on the rail network suspected to be deliberate sabotage.
According to the BBC, Dutch rail infrastructure operator ProRail said it had identified at least 35 sites in the north-central region, including Amsterdam, where pipes and cables had been placed on the tracks. Trains collided with metal objects on some sections, but the low speeds prevented serious damage. Major routes to Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven, and Utrecht were also affected.
ProRail said the acts were believed to be deliberate attacks and had caused train services to be suspended or delayed. The company explained that the objects caused the system to mistakenly detect trains as being on the tracks, preventing control centers from managing train operations. Road traffic was also affected as railway crossing equipment malfunctioned amid the rail network disruption, creating a chain reaction.
National rail operator NS reported that train services around major cities such as Zwolle, Deventer, and Amersfoort were disrupted during the morning commute, but said services were gradually resuming.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten condemned the incident as "an act that causes chaos and threatens lives." He added, "We must now calmly await the results of the police investigation," and said, "The police and security authorities are making every effort to track down the perpetrators." AIVD, the Dutch intelligence service, said it had launched an investigation together with the police and prosecutors.
The Netherlands has seen widespread protests in recent months over next year's government budget. Labor unions opposed cuts to social welfare benefits, while farmers expressed anger over what they said was the unfair designation of agriculture as responsible for nitrogen pollution. The attack took place on the 15th, the day of the official opening ceremony of the Dutch parliament.
[email protected] Park Jong-won Reporter