French officials investigate if 'malicious act' caused train derailment

Officials in northern France are investigating if the derailment of a passenger train on Friday evening was the result of "a malicious act". Prosecutor Sébastien Gallois said on Saturday that a fragment of rail had been found on the tracks - and the reasons for its presence were "unknown". Local media say 186 passengers were on board the train that was operating between Rouen and Caen in Normandy. Fourty-four were treated for injuries, including an 18-year-old woman who was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. Some 140 firefighters and other emergency teams were deployed to the scene of the incident near Cléon, just south of Rouen, shortly before 20:00 (18:00 GMT).