Strasbourg crash: 'Five dead' after high speed train catches fire and derails in France

The incident is not believed to be related to the Paris attacks

Emergency services on the scene (Reuters)

Five people are believed to have died and seven injured after a high speed train caught fire and derailed in Strasbourg.

The test train came off the tracks outside Eckwersheim, near Strasbroug, to the east of the country, and plunged into a river at around 6.15pm (local time).

Dramatic pictures on social media showed the train upended and partially submerged in the water.

There has not been any link established with the Paris attacks.

A witness, a teenage girl having a lesson at a nearby riding school, told Dernieres Nouvelles A’Alsace (DNA) she saw the train catch fire and then overturn. It is believed the train may have struck a nearby bridge before catching fire.Emergency services have been deployed to the scene.

Emergency services have been deployed and those injured airlifted to nearby hospitals.

It is believed the crash occurred during a test run of the TGV train when the vehicle gained “excessive speed” according to sources speaking to AFP.