German police suspect sabotage after fire on major rail line

German police are investigating possible sabotage after a fire shut down a major railway line between the western cities of Düsseldorf and Duisburg on Thursday.

A police spokesman said state security investigators are exploring all possibilities as experts examine the scene.

The fire broke out in a cable duct that is part of the railway's signalling system. Although the flames have been extinguished, widespread disruptions are expected to continue for hours.

A dpa reporter at the scene learned that unknown individuals are believed to have placed an ignition device in the cable conduit. A train driver saw smoke rising from the duct and raised the alarm.
Railway staff began firefighting efforts even before the fire brigade arrived.

Train traffic was brought to total halt on the north-south line, while disruptions hit long-distance rail operations across Deutsche Bahn's nationwide network.

The fire occurred within Dusseldorf's city limits.