THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Dutch authorities initiated an investigation on Tuesday into potential sabotage of the rail network following a power outage that resulted in limited train services at the country’s main airport. This disruption coincided with the commencement of a two-day summit of NATO leaders in the Netherlands.
According to Caretaker Justice Minister David van Weel, investigators are exploring the possibility that a fire affecting around 30 rail cables was intentionally set. "It could be an activist group. It could be another state. It could be anything," Van Weel stated during the NATO Public Forum roundtable gathering.
The incident severely impacted rail services, halting train operations between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam, the capital city. ProRail, the service operator, reported that a power failure occurred early Tuesday morning in cables situated near the airport, and subsequent investigations revealed "considerable damage" due to the fire, according to their statement.
While train services to the south towards The Hague were still operational, NATO leaders arriving for the summit did not utilize trains. Instead, they were transported in motorcades along secured roads from the airport to their hotels and the summit venue. ProRail anticipates that normal service will be restored by early evening.
Authorities have implemented strict security measures in response to the summit, referred to as Operation Orange Shield. They have established temporary barricades and metal mesh fences around the World Forum venue, indicating the scale of the military and police operation prepared to ensure the safety of the 32 NATO leaders. Approximately 27,000 police officers, accounting for nearly half of the entire police force in the Netherlands, alongside over 10,000 defense personnel, will be on duty in the area surrounding the summit.
On the eve of the summit, several municipalities and organizations associated with NATO reported a series of denial-of-service attacks, attributed to pro-Russian hackers. The National Cybersecurity Center noted in a statement that many of these attacks were claimed by a group named NoName057(16), identified as having pro-Russian ideological motives, although specific details were not provided.
This attempt to disrupt critical infrastructure has parallels to previous sabotage incidents, such as attacks on France’s high-speed rail network last July. Those attacks were orchestrated by arsonists ahead of the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris, targeting remote locations far from the capital to disrupt rail routes into the city.
Overall, the ongoing situation in The Hague highlights the intensification of security concerns associated with major international events, as authorities respond to both physical and cyber threats during a significant gathering of NATO leaders.
