Record number of sabotages on German railways

A record number of sabotage incidents have been reported on German railways this year, with attacks ranging from thefts and arson at switches and cables to vandalism. According to internal company reports cited by the Bild newspaper and confirmed by Deutsche Welle, there were 2,200 cases of sabotage, fires, and thefts recorded between January and June 2026—a seven percent increase compared to the same period last year. These incidents have caused delays totaling over 220,000 minutes, disrupting both passenger and freight traffic on major routes. The latest incident occurred overnight into Tuesday in Neu Wulmstorf in Lower Saxony, where a critical switch cabinet essential for train management and safety systems was set on fire. This led to the cancellation of approximately 200 train journeys along the Hamburg-Cuxhaven route, forcing thousands of passengers to use alternative transport options. Earlier in the week, a significant disruption was recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state. On the main rail line connecting Düsseldorf and Cologne, multiple cables were damaged in a fire that broke out in cable channels. Additionally, a fire erupted on a railway embankment, which firefighters managed to extinguish. Local prosecutors and police in Cologne stated they are investigating the possibility that the fire was deliberately set. An anonymous letter published on the left-wing internet platform Indymedia.org claimed responsibility for the attack. The message, attributed to the group "Kommando Angry Birds," previously linked to similar rail sabotage incidents, stated that the group was responsible for sabotaging the railway north of Leverkusen. It detailed the placement of incendiary devices using time-delay mechanisms and barbecue lighter fluid in two cable channels on a bridge over the Wupper River. The group cited stopping "mass extinction" caused by "technological escalation" as their motive, claiming it was necessary to remove industrial technology. Security circles, according to the German news agency dpa, consider the letter authentic. Herbert Reul, Minister of the Interior for North Rhine-Westphalia, condemned the actions, stating that such acts are targeted sabotage rather than protests. He emphasized that these attacks affect the daily lives of many people and that perpetrators knowingly calculate collateral damage. Reul criticized the attackers for wanting to create a better world for plants, animals, and humans but instead causing chaos during a drought period. He warned that their goal is to replace politics with violence, which authorities will not tolerate. Police in Cologne are seeking witnesses following the fire and discovered another incendiary device approximately 200 meters from the initial fire site. The department for state security in Cologne is also examining potential links to other criminal activities. The group "Kommando Angry Birds" has previously taken credit for several attacks. About a year ago, they claimed responsibility for an attack on the main rail line between Düsseldorf and Duisburg, where incendiary devices were activated in July 2025, leading to the closure of the vital route for several days. At the beginning of January 2026, the group also took credit for an attempted attack on a transformer station near Düsseldorf in Erkrath. Reul had already warned about this group a year earlier, noting that it had carried out multiple sabotage operations in the Düsseldorf area in recent years. The group is also accused of attacking telecommunications towers and setting fires in tunnels on the A46 motorway. Investigations into these incidents are ongoing and extensive.