Cable thefts leave thousands stranded on Spanish trains

Thousands of radical were near trapped connected trains oregon stranded overnight aft the theft of copper cables halted high-speed services betwixt Madrid and confederate Spain's Andalusia region.

Authorities opened an probe connected Monday aft Sunday's theft, which Transport Minister Óscar Puente called a "serious enactment of sabotage".

He added that the cablegram theft took spot astatine 5 locations, each wrong a fewer kilometres of each different connected the high-speed line. On Monday morning, Puente said bid operations were being "fully restored" .

This question disruption comes a week aft Spain and Portugal suffered a blackout, which likewise saw trains comes to a standstill. The origin is inactive unknown.

"All of a abrupt successful the past 2 weeks - what is going on?" Kevin, a tourer from the US told Reuters quality bureau arsenic helium waited astatine Madrid's Atocha station, wherever thousands were stranded.

More than 10,000 passengers were affected betwixt Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Valencia and Granada, and astatine slightest 30 trains.

The disruption came aft a agelong play successful Madrid and up of the week-long Feria festival successful Seville, which sees an influx of travellers to the city.

"Operations are present afloat restored aft a precise hard nighttime for commuters... and staff, who had to respond nether highly analyzable circumstances," the transport curate said connected Monday morning.

The theft locations, helium said, were successful areas accessed via wood trails.

Train services were gradually returning to normal, Spain's nationalist obstruction manager Adif said connected Monday afternoon.

Earlier successful the day, the Spanish interior ministry said the country's civilian guard, and constabulary were successful interaction with Adif and different authorities to "clarify what happened and place those responsible".

The terms of copper has soared successful caller years, and cablegram thefts from bid and telecommunications networks person surged.