It is still unclear when trains will run regularly again (symbolic image).Image: www.imago-images.de
July 11, 2026, 1:03 p.mJuly 11, 2026, 1:03 p.m
An act of sabotage is suspected to be the cause of the fire on the important railway line between Düsseldorf and Cologne in western Germany. This was reported from security circles. Meanwhile, an alleged letter of confession appeared on the left-wing platform indymedia.org. The railway line has been closed since Friday. It is still unclear when trains will run regularly again.
The group “Angry Birds Command” published the letter. In it, the group writes that it is responsible “for the sabotage of the railway line north of Leverkusen”. Incendiary devices were placed in a cable shaft.
In security circles it is assumed that the letter is genuine, as the German Press Agency learned. It is considered unlikely that a technical defect could have caused the embankment fire on the railway line. WDR first reported on the letter of responsibility.
The left-wing extremist group “Angry Birds Command” also claimed responsibility for an attack on the main railway line between Düsseldorf and Duisburg about a year ago.
The Cologne police state security agency had already taken over the investigation on Friday. A police spokesman said it was being investigated whether there was criminal activity and whether the fire was set intentionally.
Route remains closed
It is still unclear when the closed section will be reopened. On Saturday afternoon, a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn said that no forecast could currently be made as to when the route could be used again. Due to the closure, there are diversions and delays in local and long-distance transport and individual trains are canceled.
According to the railway, the embankment between Langenfeld and Leverkusen burned in two places on Friday morning. The fire department put out the fires. However, the fire caused damage to several signal cables, meaning that trains could not run on that section of the route. (sda/dpa)