German police are investigating a suspected act of sabotage on a major railway line that disrupted traffic and was claimed by a far-left group. The incident occurred on Friday morning when technicians noticed a fire in a cable duct near a station in Leverkusen, a city close to Cologne, according to a police statement released on Saturday afternoon.
Deliberate Fire Causes Rail Disruptions
The material damage led to significant disruptions to Deutsche Bahn (DB) traffic on this heavily used route in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous region. Police stated, "Investigators currently assume that the fire was started deliberately," as they appealed for witnesses.
Far-Left Group Claims Responsibility
In a letter published Saturday morning on the far-left online platform Indymedia, a group calling itself "Kommando Angry Birds" claimed responsibility for the sabotage. The group stated it was "responsible for the sabotage of the railway line north of Leverkusen."
Rising Sabotage Incidents on German Rail Network
Germany's rail network, already strained after decades of underinvestment, has seen acts of sabotage multiply in recent months, the vast majority of which remain unsolved. The country is on alert over attempted sabotage, disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks attributed in particular to Russia.
