Railway Arson Investigation Spreads Across Germany's Tracks
Germany Suffers Series of Railway Arson Attacks in August 2023
A far-left group known as "Kommando Angry Birds" has claimed responsibility for a series of railway arson attacks that took place in Germany last month. The group published a letter on the extreme left online platform Indymedia, stating that the attacks were carried out to stop a "system of destruction" of the environment.
The first fire occurred on Thursday, August 2, near Düsseldorf, causing significant disruptions to rail traffic on heavily frequented lines in the Ruhr industrial region. The fire connected northern Europe to Switzerland and affected hundreds of trains per day, resulting in diversions or cancellations.
The cable fire disrupted the transport of goods, including coal, and caused widespread inconvenience to tens of thousands of passengers. Initial investigations suggest that the cable fire is related to arson, as stated by Deutsche Bahn. Five cables, each about 20 meters long, had to be replaced.
On Friday evening, a new cable fire occurred on a freight railway in Hohenmölsen, Saxony-Anhalt. The authenticity of the letter from the Angry Birds Kommando is being verified by the police, and the state security service is involved in the inquiries.
The second suspected arson attack took place on Friday, about a kilometer away from the first. The repaired cables allowed disrupted traffic to resume after two days. The German rail network has experienced other suspected sabotage incidents in October 2022 or September 2023.
Authorities, including NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul, suspect left-wing extremists to be responsible for these sabotage acts. No other credible individuals or groups were reported as responsible for these railway arson attacks from the available sources.
The police spokesman stated that the first fire appears to be an act of sabotage. The Angry Birds Kommando has not provided any further details about their actions, but their message on Indymedia emphasised their opposition to the destruction of the environment and the exploitation of resources.
As the investigation continues, the impacts of these arson attacks are being felt across Germany, with disruptions to rail services and the transport of goods causing significant inconvenience and economic losses. The German government and rail operators are working to restore normal services as quickly as possible and to bring those responsible for these attacks to justice.
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The recent railway arson attacks in Germany, carried out by the far-left group "Kommando Angry Birds," have stirred political discussions, raising questions about extremist activities in the realm of crime-and-justice. Amidst the general-news reports of widespread disruptions and economic losses, the German government is actively pursuing the investigation to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable, reflecting the country's ongoing commitment to maintaining its railway system and upholding law and order. [1,4]
