Unknown individuals attempted to sabotage a power substation in Erkrath near Düsseldorf, but the attack failed. The left-wing extremist group 'Kommando Angry Birds' claimed responsibility on the Indymedia platform. Authorities only learned of the incident through a confession letter posted on Monday.
In Erkrath, a town in North Rhine-Westphalia near Düsseldorf, unknown individuals carried out an attack on the power supply. The sabotage targeted a substation that is part of critical infrastructure. Senior Public Prosecutor Wolf-Tilman Baumert confirmed it was a failed attempt. Police discovered an incendiary device placed at the site during an inspection, which had not ignited.
The group 'Kommando Angry Birds', classified as left-wing extremist, claimed the attack on Indymedia. A confession letter posted on Monday states that the attempt occurred some time ago when the weather was still warmer. The perpetrators did not want to make anyone freeze and aimed at an industrial area. They cited the burden of environmental toxins as motive: "Our limits have been exceeded."
The group had previously claimed responsibility for an attack on the main railway line between Düsseldorf and Duisburg at the end of July. The incident echoes a recent arson attack in Berlin, where a suspected left-wing extremist fire on a cable bridge caused power outages in several districts for days. Authorities are investigating the Erkrath case further to identify the perpetrators and prevent additional threats to infrastructure.