Train services operating in North Rhine-Westphalia continue uninterrupted, while a fresh crime scene unfolds in Saxony-Anhalt.
In a series of disturbing events, suspected arson attacks on railway cables have disrupted train services in both North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt. The incidents, confirmed as criminal acts of arson, have caused extensive disruptions, cancelled or rerouted hundreds of trains, and affected tens of thousands of passengers, including commuters and holidaymakers.
The first reported incident occurred near Düsseldorf, where a cable fire was suspected to be an act of arson. The police in North Rhine-Westphalia are investigating this attack, with preliminary evidence pointing towards left-wing extremists as the perpetrators. A far-left group, the "Angry Birds Kommando," has claimed responsibility for this attack, stating their motive as opposition to a "system of destruction" that they believe harms the environment.
In a similar incident, another cable fire was reported in Hohenmölsen, Saxony-Anhalt. Deutsche Bahn, Germany's state rail operator, confirmed this was also a criminal act, affecting key railway lines used for passenger and freight transport, including coal shipments.
The "Angry Birds Kommando" has also taken credit on left-wing platforms such as Indymedia for multiple attacks around Düsseldorf. This group is identified as a left-wing extremist collective opposing industrial systems.
The consequences of these attacks were far-reaching. The sabotage took place on some of Germany’s busiest rail routes, linking industrial regions like the Ruhr with the rest of Europe, highlighting a coordinated effort across western and eastern Germany. The Duisburg-Düsseldorf route, a heavily frequented route, has been reopened by the railway company, but the situation in Saxony-Anhalt remains uncertain, with another suspected crime scene reported.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, extensive repair work was conducted on five cables with a total length of around 100 meters. Despite the disruptions, train traffic has resumed, and passengers can continue their journeys as planned during the summer holidays. However, the authenticity of the statement claiming responsibility for the Düsseldorf arson attack is still being checked.
The authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia are investigating the incidents in the two federal states to determine if they are connected. The evidence points to a series of linked left-wing extremist sabotage acts on German railway infrastructure spanning North Rhine-Westphalia to Saxony-Anhalt.
As the investigations continue, it is crucial to ensure the safety and security of railway infrastructure and the passengers who rely on it for their daily commutes and travels. The authorities urge anyone with information regarding these incidents to come forward and help bring those responsible to justice.
[1] Deutsche Welle - Left-wing extremist group claims responsibility for German railway arson [2] BBC News - German railway arson attacks: Left-wing extremist group claims responsibility [3] Tagesspiegel - Link zwischen Brandanschlägen auf Eisenbahnleitungen in NRW und Sachsen-Anhalt [4] Der Spiegel - Brandanschläge auf Eisenbahnleitungen: Link zwischen NRW und Sachsen-Anhalt
- The "Angry Birds Kommando," a known left-wing extremist collective, has claimed responsibility for a series of arson attacks on railway cables in North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt, disrupting train services in both regions.
- In the political realm, these left-wing extremist attacks on German railway infrastructure have raised concerns about war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice, prompting authorities to enhance security measures to ensure passenger safety and prevent further disruptions.
