Hong Kong investigates possible sabotage in MTR derailment: SCMP report

Hong Kong’s government is to investigate whether the MTR East Rail line was sabotaged, the South China Morning Post reported late last night.

“As the mystery over the cause of the accident deepened, one line of inquiry turned to whether disgruntled MTR Corporation employees were behind the incident,” the SCMP said.

“Many possibilities have already been ruled out after further checks, so the Hong Kong government will look into whether the derailment was an inside job,” a source quoted by the newspaper said.

“So far, the MTR Corporation still has no clues about the probable cause of the incident.”

The SCMP added that the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said “it would examine various factors, including the mechanical parts of the train, the track and associated devices, as well as the possibility of obstruction by foreign objects.”

It also emerged yesterday that a fourth crack had been found on the tracks. The rail accident was the city’s most serious in more than two decades. Five people were injured.