MADRID: A Spanish rail infrastructure company says copper thieves are suspected of causing major disruptions on commuter train services around the northeastern city of Barcelona.

The state-owned Adif railway infrastructure company said Wednesday that 360 meters of high tension cable were cut and stolen early Tuesday, causing short circuits and several small fires at installations north of Barcelona.

It said the incident affected 60,000 passengers and 200 trains. Officials said the disruption could last several days.

Adif said it has had more than 350 cases of cable thefts this year. Regional police say that in many previous thefts the cable was stolen to sell the copper on the black market.