Train transportation in North Rhine-Westphalia proceeds, unfolding another crime scene in Saxony-Anhalt
In early August 2025, a series of suspected arson attacks on railway cables caused disruptions to train services across Germany, affecting both passenger and freight transport. The incidents, which occurred over two days, targeted critical rail lines, including the central north-south axis of Deutsche Bahn.
The first two attacks took place between Düsseldorf and Duisburg in western Germany, disrupting services in the Ruhr area, including those to Düsseldorf Airport. The cable damage in Düsseldorf paralyzed the heavily frequented Duisburg-Düsseldorf route since Thursday, causing delays and inconvenience to tens of thousands of travelers, including commuters and holidaymakers.
Initial investigations suggest that this cable fire was also deliberately set. The police in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) are assuming sabotage, with the state protection department investigating the matter. No specific suspect or group has been identified for the cable damage in Düsseldorf as yet.
A claim of responsibility was published on the left-wing platform "Indymedia" by a group called "Commando Angry Birds". This group is known as a left-wing extremist participation campaign, and a similar group with links to Antifa claimed responsibility for similar attacks in Germany in 2024. The authenticity of the claim of responsibility is still being checked.
Deutsche Bahn reported another suspected arson attack in Saxony-Anhalt, near the Webau district. The cable fire involved a freight route for coal transports, adding to the disruptions caused by the attacks in western Germany.
Following extensive repairs on five cables with a total length of around 100 meters, Deutsche Bahn has reopened the Duisburg-Düsseldorf route. Train services in NRW are now running as usual, with no more replacement bus services needed.
The arson attacks highlight the importance of maintaining the integrity of critical infrastructure, particularly in the context of increasing politically motivated sabotage against rail infrastructure. As investigations continue, authorities remain vigilant in ensuring the safety and smooth operation of train services across Germany.
[1] BBC News [2] Deutsche Welle [3] The Guardian [4] Reuters
- The series of arson attacks on railway cables, including the one in Düsseldorf, have disrupted general-news headlines across Europe, with both politics and crime-and-justice segments featuring these incidents regularly.
- As investigations into the left-wing extremist attacks on Deutsche Bahn's rail infrastructure continue, multiple news outlets such as BBC News, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian, and Reuters are reporting extensively on the potential impact of such politically motivated sabotage on Germany's overall security and general-news landscape.
