Mystery group suspends French rail terror threat

A mysterious group that claimed to have planted bombs on the French rail network announced today that it is suspending its terror threats.

In two letters received at the presidential Elysée palace and the Rrime Minister’s office, the group which calls itself AZF said none of the bombs already planted is capable of exploding, according to police.

The hand-written, one-page letter came a day after a bomb with seven detonators was found half-buried on a train track near the town of Troyes, south-east of Paris, triggering a massive inspection of the tracks.

It was the second bomb discovered hidden under tracks in just over a month - and the second inspection of thousands of miles of track.

The first bomb, found in February, was claimed by AZF. There was no claim of responsibility for the one discovered yesterday by an employee of the state-run train authority.

AZF had threatened to detonate nine bombs planted in the rail network unless it was paid more than €3m.