The Judicial Police of the Civil Guard Command in Toledo is investigating the cable theft that caused significant railway chaos on the AVE Madrid-Sevilla line on Sunday afternoon, affecting dozens of trains and thousands of travelers. It is being determined whether the offenders were looking to steal copper cable to sell on the black market or if they intended to sabotage the infrastructure to cause serious damage.
No hypothesis has been ruled out yet, and the case report has not been sent to the Orgaz court. The cable thefts occurred in the Toledo towns of Los Yébenes and Manzaneque, where security cameras have not been installed in that area, facilitating the thieves' actions.
A relatively small amount of cable has been stolen, around 150 meters, leading some to believe the objective was sabotage rather than theft. Last year, 14 kilometers of cable were stolen at another point on the electrical route between Los Yébenes and Urda, suggesting some coordination in the criminal acts.
Despite doubts about the motivations, it is clear that the vandalism focused on the safety beacons of the AVE track, which are vital for its operation. The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has indicated that this surgical and selective attack reinforces the sabotage theory. Until the police report reaches the judge, no preliminary proceedings can be initiated regarding this incident.
