Information
German authorities are investigating a suspected act of sabotage after a fire broke out in a cable tunnel near Düsseldorf, severely disrupting rail traffic between Düsseldorf and Duisburg. The fire, discovered by a train driver who saw smoke, damaged a key section of railway infrastructure, destroying about 60 meters of cable. This led to significant delays and rerouting of trains, with Deutsche Bahn suspending stops at several stations and warning of long-term disruptions. Major high-speed connections to Berlin, Frankfurt, and international routes to the Netherlands were also affected.
Police have ruled out accidental causes and are treating the incident as potential sabotage, with state security leading the investigation. Reports suggest an ignition device may have been deliberately planted, intensifying concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. While no injuries were reported, the damage requires extensive repairs, underscoring the serious impact on regional and long-distance rail services in western Germany.
Source: DW, Reuters
So What
It is likely that this is part of Russia’s greyzone campaign to create chaos across Europe, potentially involving criminal groups in sabotage operations like this one. Although this attack didn’t specifically target military supply lines, it seems intended to disrupt the general population, aiming to instill panic and increase the stress of everyday citizens. Even if the perpetrators are apprehended, it may be challenging to directly link them to Russian intelligence, which allows for a plausible deniability that makes greyzone operations highly effective.
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