Netherlands rail network hit by suspected sabotage

ProRail has said materials deliberately placed on tracks at multiple locations caused disruptions across the Dutch rail network on Tuesday, with police investigating.

• ProRail said materials were found deliberately placed on rails at multiple locations, causing track circuit malfunctions, and that the incident appeared to involve sabotage.
• Services around Zwolle, Deventer and Amersfoort were severely affected during the morning rush hour, with routes to Schiphol airport and Utrecht also hit.
• Prime Minister Rob Jetten said the sabotage aimed to "destabilize society" and declined to say whether it constituted terrorism until police investigations concluded.
• Police found materials again at several sites after clearing tracks in the morning; ProRail said services largely returned to normal by midday.