France finds no railside bombs despite threats

Ten thousand rail workers combed France's sprawling track network yesterday but found no bombs after a shadowy group demanding cash triggered a major security alert by threatening to blow up trains.

The SNCF state railway said it had tightened surveillance on trains and at bridges, tunnels and major hubs but a search of its 32,000 kilometres of track had revealed nothing.

The conservative government, trying to reassure voters before regional elections, vowed to bring to justice the previously unknown group which says it has planted 10 bombs and will explode them if it is not paid about $5 million.

The government is treating it as a criminal case and has ruled out any involvement by radical Islamic groups. Crime specialists say it is possible a single dangerous crank is behind the threats.