Railway operations continue in North Rhine-Westphalia, while a fresh crime scene emerges in Saxony-Anhalt
In recent days, Germany has witnessed a series of disruptive incidents on its railways, primarily in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and Saxony-Anhalt. Authorities suspect these acts of sabotage are the work of left-wing extremist groups, particularly the "Angry Birds Commando," a radical left-wing anarchist campaign.
The Angry Birds Commando has claimed responsibility for multiple arson attacks on railway infrastructure, including critical cables essential for signaling and switching systems. These attacks, which involve setting fire to cables along high-traffic lines, have caused significant disruptions, most notably on the busy Duisburg-Düsseldorf route in NRW.
The sabotage in Düsseldorf, which targeted five cables with a total length of around 100 meters, paralysed the nationwide central north-south axis of Deutsche Bahn for several days. The effects were felt by tens of thousands of travelers, including commuters and vacationers. However, extensive repair work completed late into the night has allowed train traffic in NRW to resume as usual.
The police in NRW are treating the Düsseldorf incident as sabotage and are actively investigating the authenticity of claim letters published on left-wing platforms. The regional interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, has confirmed the persistence of these sabotage acts by this extremist group in recent years.
Similar incidents have occurred across Germany since mid-2024, suggesting an ongoing campaign rather than isolated events. Cities such as Berlin, Bremen-Hamburg, Southern Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt have all experienced disruptions due to left-wing extremist arson sabotage.
In Saxony-Anhalt, another suspected arson attack has occurred on a freight traffic route near the Webau district. The cable fire in Hohenmölsen, on a route for coal transports, is also under investigation by the authorities.
Despite these disruptions, train passengers in NRW can now continue their journeys as planned during the summer holidays. Train stations in Düsseldorf and Duisburg are running as usual in the morning, and replacement bus services are no longer needed.
The state protection department is also involved in the investigation of the Düsseldorf incident in NRW. The group "Commando Angry Birds," claiming responsibility for the Düsseldorf incident, is known as a left-wing extremist "participatory campaign," according to NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul.
The authorities urge the public to report any suspicious activities around railway infrastructure to ensure the safety and smooth operation of Germany's railways.
The Angry Birds Commando, a known left-wing extremist group, claimed responsibility for the arson attacks on railway infrastructure in Ne Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and Saxony-Anhalt, including the disruption on the Duisburg-Düsseldorf route. These acts of sabotage, part of a wider campaign that started in mid-2024, have been confirmed by the regional interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, as ongoing activities by this extremist group. As such, the general public is encouraged to report any suspicious activities around railway infrastructure to ensure the safety and smooth operation of Germany's railways.
