Paris  - Following a series of mysterious attacks on railway infrastructure in the past week, police in France have arrested eight suspects, the Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday.

More than 40 high-speed trains between Paris and London, Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne had to be transferred to traditional tracks on Saturday, resulting in more than 150 trains running late, after metal pipes were placed atop overhead powerlines at four separate locations.

On Sunday night one TGV train travelling near Narbonne in southern France hit concrete blocks that had been placed on the tracks. No one was injured.

Although no official claims have been made for the attacks, the French railway network management company RFF had said that the incidents were very likely to be "pure vandalism."

The ministry said on Tuesday that the arrested suspects were from an "anarcho-autonomous" organization and had been under surveillance.

Train conductors in France went on strike last Thursday in a dispute over conditions. The attacks are not believed to be related to the strikes. (dpa)