French Gang Attacks Train, Finds It Empty
A gang of 50 attacked a high-speed French train Sunday night but found it empty and fled with only the driver’s jacket and wallet.
Police said Monday that the gang halted the train in a Marseilles suburb by placing concrete blocks across the tracks. The train, heading for the southwestern city of Montpellier, was moving slowly when the driver saw the barrier.
Travelers have complained frequently about robberies on trains traveling from France into Italy and Spain, but Sunday’s attack was the first recorded instance of an attempt to hold up one of the country’s special high-speed TGV trains.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
