Investigations after a cable fire: Who is behind the sabotage in Hohenmölsen?

Investigations after a cable fire: Who is behind the sabotage in Hohenmölsen?

On August 1, 2025, there was a currently unexplained cable fire on a railway branch line near Hohenmölsen in Saxony-Anhalt. The police have since started an investigation because one or more unknown persons deliberately set fire to data and power cables and thereby caused a dangerous interference with rail traffic. Despite a letter of confession, the identity of the perpetrators is still unknown, and the police currently have no concrete information about possible suspects stern.de.

The investigations not only focus on the events in Saxony-Anhalt, but also refer to several similar incidents in North Rhine-Westphalia. Recently, for example, another suspected attack was carried out between Düsseldorf and Duisburg on August 2nd, which resulted in massive disruptions to train traffic. In both cases, the police suspect a criminal background and are investigating possible connections between the crimes tagesschau.de reported.

The effects of the actions

The consequences of the cable fire in North Rhine-Westphalia were considerable. Thousands of commuters had to switch to buses as train services were severely disrupted. Long-distance trains were also affected, as they were paralyzed by damage to cables for switches and signals. A significant traffic volume of over 620 trains daily on this route shows how sensitive the situation is, with a similar problem also affecting the railway in Saxony-Anhalt, where barrier systems are affected zeit.de reported.

Although the disruption in Saxony-Anhalt had less far-reaching effects than in North Rhine-Westphalia, the investigative teams are examining whether there is a connection between these and other incidents in the region. In the days following the fire damage, the routes were put back into operation at short notice so that coal transport could continue undisturbed.

The perpetrators in view

The group, which calls itself “Angry Birds Command,” has already claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past and sees itself as part of an anti-capitalist movement. North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul described the group as militant left-wing extremists and pointed out the associated dangers. The authenticity of the letter of confession is currently being checked in order to be able to draw further conclusions about the perpetrators. Meanwhile, the police have ensured that all traces are meticulously evaluated in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the situation.

Overall, it is clear that critical infrastructure such as railway systems is particularly vulnerable. Access to cable ducts allows perpetrators to cause significant damage in a short period of time. Both the railways and the safety authorities are required to prevent such incidents in the future and to increase safety in rail transport.