After the train had left in Gent-Sint-Pieters, it came to a halt near Merelbeke around 7.30 pm. “There is a suspicion of malicious intent,” says Dimitri Temmerman of the NMBS. “It is the police who are conducting the investigation. We will of course cooperate fully. If it is proven that the train stopped due to malicious intent, then that is a serious crime.” He declined to comment further on the nature of the crime.
According to Temmerman, the train stood still for an hour and the passengers remained on board the entire time. “The train has then arrived in Brussels-South where we have distributed water to the travelers. They were then able to continue their journey. We regret the inconvenience this incident has caused our travelers.”
When the train came to a standstill, the other trains had to be diverted, but now there is no more disruption, Temmerman said.
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