Train Cable Sabotage Disrupts Cologne-Düsseldorf Line; Political Motive Under Investigation

Major Rail Disruption Follows Cable Sabotage

Rail services between Cologne and Düsseldorf in Germany experienced significant disruption on Monday, September 22, 2025, following the deliberate severing of train cables. German police have launched an investigation into the incident, stating that a 'political motive' cannot be excluded at this time. The sabotage occurred in the Rheindorf area of Leverkusen, north of Cologne, causing considerable chaos for commuters in the densely populated region.

Details of the Attack and Immediate Impact

The incident was discovered around 01:15 AM when it was found that 'several cables had been cut in a cable shaft'. Unknown individuals reportedly opened an underground cable pit overnight and cut all cables using a 'cutting grinder' or 'cutting disc'. At least two damaged cable sections were found along the line. This act of sabotage paralyzed a signal box in Leverkusen, leading to widespread disruptions on the vital railway route. Train traffic was rerouted, and in some sections, passengers were transported by buses, resulting in significantly longer travel times. Long-distance services from the Ruhr region were diverted via Wuppertal, while regional services on the left bank of the Rhine were rerouted through Neuss.

Intensified Investigation into Political Motivation

Authorities are treating the incident as an act of sabotage, having initially considered it vandalism before changing their assessment. The investigation is being led by the state protection unit of the police in Bochum, which specializes in politically motivated crimes. The federal security service has also joined the inquiry, and police have indicated that 'preliminary leads have been identified'. The country remains on high alert for potential sabotage, with officials noting that Germany has been the second-biggest supplier of aid to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 and has accused Moscow of increasing 'hybrid warfare' efforts.

Broader Context of Infrastructure Sabotage in Germany

This latest incident adds to a series of suspected acts of sabotage targeting Germany's critical infrastructure in recent years. Previous incidents include:

• A fire hitting electricity cables in Berlin earlier this month, which police labeled a suspected arson attack with a possible political motive after an unnamed anarchist group claimed responsibility online.
• Three fires affecting parts of the German rail network last month, with a far-left group calling itself the 'Angry Birds Kommando' claiming responsibility for at least one.
• Politically motivated fires on pipes holding railway cables near Hamburg in September 2023, with an anonymous letter claiming responsibility to protest 'neo-colonial exploitation and earth destroying extraction of raw materials'.
• Communication cables cut at two sites in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia in October 2022, causing travel chaos.

A recent report co-authored by the domestic intelligence agency found that the costs to German businesses from cyberattacks and sabotage, primarily from Russia and China, exceeded 289 billion euros over the past 12 months. German authorities have also launched a campaign warning against Russian attempts to recruit 'disposable agents' via social media for espionage and sabotage.