Railway authority in Germany admits arson as cause for the third fire incident in a two-day span
In a series of disturbing events, Germany has witnessed multiple arson attacks on its railway lines, causing significant disruptions to train services. The latest blaze occurred in Hohenmoelsen, eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, on Friday, as reported on Saturday [1].
Previously, Deutsche Bahn had repaired the line between Dusseldorf and Duisburg following two earlier attacks. The fires occurred at different locations, with two in western Germany and one in Hohenmoelsen, eastern Saxony-Anhalt [1]. These incidents involved rail cables, causing damage and disruption to train services. Notably, the affected line was used by goods trains, notably for coal transport [1].
The first fire on Thursday disrupted one of Germany's busiest rail lines linking its Ruhr industrial region with northern Europe and Switzerland [1]. Two blazes involving rail cables occurred in western Germany, one kilometre apart on Thursday and Friday [1]. As a result, several hundred trains had to be cancelled or diverted [1].
Interestingly, the far-left group "Angry Birds Kommando" claimed responsibility for the first fire. In a message posted on the left-wing news site Indymedia, the group stated that their action was to stop a "system of destruction" of the environment [2].
However, the responsibility for the second and third fires remains unclear. No information was provided about the parties involved [1]. Tens of thousands of passengers were affected due to the cancellations and diversions [1]. The repairs and replacement of cable sections were carried out by Deutsche Bahn following the fires [1].
Historically, similar politically motivated sabotage incidents on German railways have occurred in recent years. For example, in September 2023, politically motivated fires targeting railway cables near Hamburg were claimed by an anonymous letter protesting "neo-colonial exploitation and earth-destroying extraction of raw materials" [2].
These attacks reflect a pattern of environmentally and politically motivated sabotage intended to disrupt transport infrastructure symbolizing systemic environmental harm. However, they carry high risks and cause widespread public disruption. The authorities are actively investigating these cases, with some uncertainty about the veracity of the claims made by the groups involved [2].
- The train attacks in Germany, a series of politically motivated sabotage incidents, are not only disrupting general news but also raising concerns in the realm of war-and-conflicts, as they target transport infrastructure.
- The Hohenmoelsen arson, apart from crime-and-justice implications, is also significant in the context of politics, as it represents a continuation of recent environmentally charged conflicts against Germany's transport infrastructure.
