Metro price-hike saboteurs may face jail
Anonymous group of activists who simultaneously pulled the emergency levers in 13 trains
Three people were arrested on Thursday in connection with sabotaging the Madrid Metro subway in protest against passenger price hikes. The police have not ruled out further detentions as it is thought some 50 people took part in the action.
"Take the Metro" was carried out by an anonymous group of activists who simultaneously pulled the emergency levers in 13 trains on nine separate lines at 8.30am on Wednesday, causing short delays to 8,000 passengers. Nobody was hurt.
The three detainees, two men and a woman, face charges of public disorder and issuing threats, in addition to a private public disorder suit brought by Metro.
The regional government compared the incident to kale borroka, a broad term for acts of vandalism and civil unrest carried out by young supporters of Basque nationalism affiliated to the radical left.
The protestors face anything from a fine of between 6,000 and 30,000 euros to a jail term of up to five years if they have a previous police record.
