Status: 01/28/2023 7:00 p.m
A cat has been killed by an approaching train at Montparnasse station in Paris. Since then, the railway company has been criticized by animal rights activists, and even the interior minister has now spoken out.
A cat hit by a train in Paris has caused a stir in France. Now even Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has spoken out. He was shocked at the way the French railway company SNCF had handled the terrible affair.
The investigations would show who was criminally responsible, the minister explained to the French television station BFMTV. He wanted to better fight animal cruelty with training courses for police officers across the country, he said on Twitter:
Cat “Neko” disappeared under the train
Cat “Neko” escaped from the carrier bag of his owner Georgia and her 15-year-old daughter Melaïna on January 2 at the Montparnasse train station and disappeared under a train. Despite 20 minutes of negotiations with the staff, they could not have prevented the train from leaving, Melaïna told the animal protection organization “30 million friends”. The animal died as the train arrived.
They were told it was just a cat and should have kept it on a leash, Melaïna added. The train only offered her and her mother a free ticket to Bordeaux after the traumatic experience.
Lawsuit against SNCF for “serious abuse”
The organization has sued SNCF for “severe mistreatment and cruelty that has resulted in the death of an animal.” If it goes to trial, a fine of up to 75,000 euros and a five-year prison sentence could be imposed.
As the daily newspaper “Le Parisien” wrote, the SNCF regrets the tragic incident. She explained that she could not save the cat because entering the tracks was strictly forbidden due to the risk of electric shock.