Copper thieves brought part of Spain's high-speed train network to a standstill on Sunday (May 4) evening, leaving some trapped in trains overnight and thousands stranded at stations. Thieves stole cables in four areas within a 10-kilometre radius in what Transport Minister Oscar Puente called a "serious act of sabotage" in a post on X.

MADRID: Spanish police opened an investigation on Monday (May 5) after thefts of copper cables halted high-speed trains from Madrid to the south, leaving thousands of passengers trapped in trains or stranded at stations.

Thousands of people were left trapped on trains or stranded overnight after the theft of copper cables halted high-speed services between Madrid and southern Spain's Andalusia region. Authorities opened an investigation on Monday after Sunday's theft,