Train movement resumes in North Rhine-Westphalia; another crime site emerges in Saxony-Anhalt
In a series of disturbing incidents, train traffic has been disrupted across Germany due to a string of deliberate cable fires affecting critical rail infrastructure. The arson attacks occurred in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and Hohenmölsen, Saxony-Anhalt, causing widespread delays and affecting hundreds of trains.
Authorities are treating these incidents as coordinated sabotage efforts, with a far-left militant group named "Angry Birds Kommando" claiming responsibility for the initial attack near Düsseldorf. The group stated that the attack was a protest against environmental destruction. However, investigations are ongoing, and no other suspects have been publicly identified or connected beyond the group that claimed the first fire.
The fire in Düsseldorf disrupted the nationwide central north-south axis of Deutsche Bahn since Thursday, causing significant disruptions. Extensive repairs were carried out on five cables with a total length of around 100 meters in Düsseldorf. Fortunately, train traffic in NRW has now returned to normal, with no need for replacement bus services. The heavily used Duisburg-Düsseldorf route has also resumed train traffic following the repairs.
In a separate incident, a cable fire was discovered on a route near the Webau district in Hohenmölsen, Saxony-Anhalt. The consequences of this arson attack have been felt by tens of thousands of travelers, including commuters and vacationers, some of whom were on their way to Düsseldorf Airport. The freight traffic route in Saxony-Anhalt is used primarily for coal transport, and the authenticity of the claim of responsibility for this attack is still being checked.
NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul suspects left-wing extremists are behind the arson attack in Düsseldorf. The group "Commando Angry Birds" is known as a left-wing extremist participatory campaign, according to Reul. Deutsche Bahn reported another suspected arson attack in Saxony-Anhalt on Friday evening. Investigations into the arson attacks in both federal states are being conducted by the state protection department.
Despite the disruptions, train stations in Düsseldorf and Duisburg are running smoothly, allowing travelers to continue their journeys as planned during the summer holidays. The police and Deutsche Bahn are treating these fires as criminal acts aimed at disrupting transport. This represents an alarming trend of arson against rail infrastructure in Germany, and it is crucial that these incidents are thoroughly investigated to ensure the safety and reliability of the nation's rail system.
- The police and Deutsche Bahn are treating the arson attacks on rail infrastructure in Düsseldorf and Hohenmölsen, which disrupted train traffic and caused widespread delays, as criminal acts of coordinated sabotage.
- The current investigations into these arson attacks are particularly crucial, as they are being conducted in both North Rhhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt, reigniting concerns about the increase in political intents, general-news stories surrounding crime-and-justice in Germany.
