Rail company in Germany attributes recurring fires over two days to acts of sabotage
In a controversial move, the far-left group "Angry Birds Kommando" has claimed responsibility for a series of rail cable fires that have caused widespread disruption across Germany. The group's statement accused a "system of destruction" targeting the environment as the motivation behind their attack, specifically linking it to the first fire near Düsseldorf on a critical rail line connecting the Ruhr industrial region with northern Europe and Switzerland.
The series of deliberate sabotages targeted rail cables, causing the cancellation or diversion of hundreds of trains and affecting tens of thousands of passengers. Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national railway company, confirmed that all three cable fires—two near Düsseldorf and one in Hohenmölsen, Saxony-Anhalt—were treated as criminal acts of sabotage. While the "Angry Birds Kommando" took responsibility for the first attack, no other group has publicly claimed responsibility for the subsequent fires.
The first fire, which occurred on Thursday, caused significant disruption on one of Germany's busiest rail lines. The affected rail line, a crucial link between Germany's Ruhr industrial region and northern Europe and Switzerland, was repaired following the incident. Five cable sections, each about 20 metres long, had to be replaced after the first fire.
The two subsequent attacks, one kilometre apart on Thursday and Friday, also caused disruptions. The line between Dusseldorf and Duisburg, where the two earlier attacks were reported, was repaired. The third blaze, which occurred in Hohenmoelsen, in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, on Friday, affected a line used primarily by goods trains, notably for coal transportation. Tens of thousands of passengers were affected by the disruptions caused by the third blaze.
Germany's rail lines have frequently been the target of attacks, with some claimed by radical groups. The first fire occurred at a points junction near Düsseldorf, while the third blaze occurred at a similar location in Hohenmoelsen. The second fire, which occurred on Friday, did not specify its exact location.
Deutsche Bahn reported that several hundred trains had to be cancelled or diverted due to the third blaze in Hohenmoelsen. The company is working diligently to restore normal service as soon as possible.
As the investigation continues, the public is reminded to stay informed and follow updates from reliable sources. The safety and security of passengers and infrastructure remain a top priority.
Delving further into the current crises, these deliberate railway sabotages have significantly disrupted the general-news landscape of Germany, with the "Angry Birds Kommando" taking responsibility for the initial attack. However, no other group has owned up to the subsequent fires in Düsseldorf and Hohenmölsen. These crimes-and-justice incidents, including the third blaze that affected tens of thousands of passengers in Hohenmölsen, highlight the ongoing risks to Germany's railways.
