"Angry Birds Command" Claims Responsibility for Arson Attack on Railway Line Near Düsseldorf
A group calling itself "Angry Birds Command" has claimed responsibility for multiple arson attacks on a railway line. Investigators suspect an eco-terrorist background.
"Angry Birds Command" Claims Responsibility for Arson Attack on Railway Line Near Düsseldorf
A previously unknown group has claimed responsibility for multiple arson attacks on a railway line in the Düsseldorf area. The "Angry Birds Command" states that on 13 January 2025, it set fire to the signalling and safety technology on the line between Cologne and the state capital. Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The perpetrators attempted to intensify the fire by bringing air conditioning units. However, the flames did not spread to the railway installations but spread into the adjacent forest. Train connections between the two major cities had to be suspended for several hours.
In a statement of responsibility, those involved justified their action with environmental protection. They claim they wanted to prevent sabotage "so the planet doesn't get shredded". At the same time, they apologise for "the fire spreading slightly" and announce that they will in future "wait for more favourable weather".
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul had already expressed suspicion in January 2025 that the perpetrators were an eco-terrorist group. This assessment is increasingly being confirmed. Investigators suspect a left-wing extremist background.
The designation "Angry Birds" refers to a popular mobile game in which players shoot birds at targets using a catapult, which then explode. Investigations are ongoing.
Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung