A far-left group calling itself “Kommando Angry Birds” has claimed responsibility for the fires set on Friday targeting the railway infrastructure between Cologne and Düsseldorf. Service resumed Saturday evening after the damaged cables were repaired, but German police are verifying the authenticity of the message and investigating possible links to other attacks.
German police and prosecutors are investigating an alleged act of sabotage on one of the busiest rail lines in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Fires that broke out Friday morning at two locations between Langenfeld and Leverkusen damaged signaling cables and forced Deutsche Bahn to close the line between Cologne and Düsseldorf. Trains were canceled or rerouted, and passengers were directed to alternative transportation.
Deutsche Bahn initially described the damage as “extensive,” and technical crews worked around the clock to replace the affected cables.
Service returned to normal on Saturday, shortly after 7:00 p.m. local time, following more than a day of disruptions. The German railway company announced that trains could once again run without restrictions on the Cologne–Düsseldorf route.
Claim signed “Kommando Angry Birds”
While repair work was ongoing, a message signed by a group calling itself “Kommando Angry Birds” appeared on the far-left platform Indymedia.
The authors claim to have placed incendiary devices in two cable manholes north of Leverkusen and to have intended to block rail traffic.
The group justified its action by citing opposition to the industrial and technological system, which it claims causes environmental destruction and the extinction of species. In the message, the group calls for the complete dismantling of the current industrial-technological system.
German police have not officially confirmed that the claim is authentic. The State Protection Unit of the Cologne Police, a division that investigates crimes with possible political motives, has taken over the investigation.
Investigators are also checking for links to other attacks on railway infrastructure.
Interior Minister: Claim Appears Credible
The Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, stated that authorities can be “relatively certain” that the group is behind at least one of the two fires.
He called for expanding the authorities’ ability to gather information online and for an analysis of locations where additional video surveillance could be installed to protect critical infrastructure.
According to WDR, the German regional public broadcaster, intelligence services in North Rhine-Westphalia do not necessarily view “Kommando Angry Birds” as an organization with a clear structure. The name appears to function more as a label under which various individuals or decentralized groups can claim responsibility for violent acts.
This characteristic can make it difficult to identify the perpetrators and establish links between attacks.
The Same Name Used in Other Attacks
“Kommando Angry Birds” has also claimed responsibility for setting fire to railway facilities in Germany.
In January 2025, the group’s name appeared in a message regarding the arson of cables on a major freight route between Düsseldorf and Solingen. Traffic was disrupted on that occasion as well.
Authorities are now trying to determine whether the attacks were carried out by the same individuals or whether the name is being used independently by multiple groups.
The German rail network has been targeted in recent years by several cable arson attacks and acts of vandalism. Many of the cases remain unsolved, and the infrastructure, which spans tens of thousands of kilometers, is difficult to monitor constantly.
Cables: A Vulnerable Point in the Network
The cable vaults and cable routes along the railroad lines are essential for the operation of signaling systems, switches, and traffic control systems.
Damage to a relatively small number of cables can bring traffic to a standstill along an entire corridor, even if the tracks and the electrification system remain intact.
A German specialist in critical infrastructure protection, quoted by WDR, stated that it is impossible to fully protect all access points to these facilities. In his view, Deutsche Bahn must invest not only in prevention but also in the ability to quickly limit the effects of an attack and organize alternative transportation for passengers.
On the Cologne–Düsseldorf line, service was restored by Saturday evening. The investigation into the perpetrators of the fires and the authenticity of the “Kommando Angry Birds” claim is ongoing.
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