Detectives from the British Transport Police (BTP) are currently investigating two malicious obstructions which occurred on the railway near Yaxley, Cambridgeshire on 21 March and at Netherfield, Nottinghamshire on 27 March.
In both incidents, railway workers from Network Rail had identified devices on the rail tracks which were intended to cause disruption to railway services.
A statement released by the BTP confirmed that the items failed to disrupt services as intended.
This information has only just been released by the BTP (2nd April) owing to the sensitivities surrounding the initial investigation.
ACC Sean O’Callaghan from British Transport Police, said:
“This was a serious and deliberate attempt by someone to cause significant sabotage and disruption to Britain’s rail network. We are urgently investigating the circumstances behind both incidents and are working extremely closely with our national partners, including the rail industry.
“It is important to highlight that these acts were intended only to delay services and not cause damage to the infrastructure,
“The railway has a number of substantial safeguards in place to prevent and detect this type of sabotage and we are now working tirelessly to identify those
“We’re are currently keeping an open mind on why someone would put their life at risk to place these items on a live railway,
“We’ll continue to monitor this situation extremely closely and have circulated advice to rail operators and indeed Network Rail.
“Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.”
You can contact our team of former emergency services & armed forces personnel either through our Facebook page, via Twitter ( @ES_News_ ) or you can contact us via email: contact@emergency-services.news or call us on: 0115 888 0592
If you run or manage a ‘job’ social media account and you would like us to share one of your stories then send us a tweet or a message!
If you would like to write an article that you would like us to share (it can be about anything to do with the emergency services / NHS) whether you serve in the emergency services / NHS or whether you are a member of the public who has had a good experience with the emergency services, then feel free to contact our team; anonymously if you prefer.
We are proud to act as a voice for the emergency services, armed forces & health service, with over 500,000 people visiting our website each month.
Before you go...
WE NEED YOUR HELP.Here at Emergency Services News, we aim to tell you stories that the mainstream media are not interested in reporting. Whilst the MSM love to berate and ridicule the emergency services, who is there to report on the realities of serving on the front line?
Emergency Services News is currently a loss-making entity. But our team of volunteers, all former emergency services personnel, do not do it for the money.
We do it because we are sick and tired of the mainstream media constantly trying to undermine the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep you and your family safe.
How many MSM journalists who speak ill of the emergency services have actually dared to don the uniform and risk their own lives to save the life of a complete stranger? If you would like to help back our mission of reporting on fact-based news, then please consider helping to support us financially.
You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.
Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.
“We’re are 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.”
The photo I saw of a ‘device’ had “Leave means leave” written on it, I can see why you are police officers….
Were there any delays due to the wrong kind of Leaves on the line?