Potential Link to a Far-Left Radical Ideology
The Duisburg-Düsseldorf railway line, one of Germany's busiest connections, has been paralyzed since Thursday following an arson attack. The police are investigating this act of sabotage, which involved damaging cables critical for railway switches and signals, causing significant disruptions.
The trace evidence collection at the second attack site lasted until noon. Repair work began after this, and it is expected to be completed by midnight, followed by test runs. A second fire damage was discovered during an inspection of the line on Friday.
The suspected perpetrators of the attack are left-wing extremists. A leftist group, the "Kommando Angry Birds," a known left-wing extremist campaign, has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the claim of responsibility published on the left-wing platform "Indymedia" is still under active investigation by law enforcement.
The state security department is also investigating the attack. North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister, Herbert Reul, indicated that this extremist group has previously carried out multiple acts of sabotage in the Düsseldorf region, suggesting a history of similar extremist actions in the area.
The attack destroyed cables controlling switches and signals near Düsseldorf, requiring major repair work. As a result, the Duisburg-Düsseldorf line, along with ICE lines to Berlin and Frankfurt am Main, and connections to North Germany, South Germany, and the Netherlands, have been affected.
Many local lines were also affected, including travel to Düsseldorf Airport. The railway company has set up a bus shuttle service and rerouted long-distance traffic via Dortmund and Wuppertal to maintain some level of service.
The number of passengers affected by the significant disruptions over the two days remains unknown. The arson attack on the railway line Duisburg-Düsseldorf is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. However, the ongoing digitization of the rail network is expected to improve the situation in the future.
NRW Transport Minister Oliver Krischer expressed outrage over the "enormous damage" and vowed a thorough investigation. The attack shows that the railway cannot completely protect itself against such criminal attacks, given the thousands of kilometers of track.
Despite the disruptions, regular service between Duisburg and Düsseldorf is expected to resume in time for the early Saturday morning start. The ongoing investigation and the promise of improved rail security offer a glimmer of hope for the return to normal operations.
In the context of the ongoing investigation into the arson attack on the Duisburg-Düsseldorf railway line, North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister, Herbert Reul, has indicated that the leftist extremist group "Kommando Angry Birds" has a history of similar actions in North Rhine-Westphalia, raising concerns in the realm of general-news and politics. The attack, governed by the laws of crime-and-justice, has caused significant disruptions and affected various lines, including those in North Rhine-Westphalia.
