Railway arson investigation leads to determination of state protection required
In an unexpected turn of events, a suspected arson attack on a signal box in Lehrte near Hannover has caused significant disruption to rail traffic on the Berlin-Hannover line. The fire, which broke out on Friday, completely destroyed the control box and cable system of the signal box.
The Wuppertal police have categorised the incident as an "attack on critical infrastructure" and, as of now, the case remains unsolved. The Hannover police are leading the current investigation, with no suspects identified yet. Evidence suggests that the fire was deliberately set, causing delays for over 250 trains since Friday evening.
The State Protection Office, a special unit within the Criminal Police that investigates crimes with a political or state-endangering background, has taken over the investigation due to its potential impact on critical infrastructure. This move comes in light of similar incidents across the country in recent times, such as the two arson attacks on the railway line between Düsseldorf and Duisburg at the end of July and the fire at a track area in Wuppertal-Oberbarmen in late August, both of which were suspected to be targeted arson attacks.
The arson attack in Lehrte has affected tens of thousands of passengers, with some trains still cancelled or rerouted, causing delays. Repairs to the control and safety technology in Lehrte are expected to continue until this afternoon.
The State Interior Minister of Niedersachsen, Daniela Behrens (SPD), has not yet commented on the incident. The spokesman for the Interior Ministry stated that the current state of the investigation is still too early and too vague.
As the investigation continues, the Hannover Criminal Duty Office is seeking witnesses who have seen suspicious persons or other observations related to the incident. Passengers and bystanders are urged to come forward with any information that could aid in the ongoing investigation.
As of late morning, long-distance trains on the Hannover-Berlin connection can run again without detours and delays in both directions. However, some IC trains between Hannover and Magdeburg are being rerouted, causing about 25 minutes of delay.
The police are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or observations to the authorities. The safety and security of the railway system and its passengers are of utmost importance, and every effort is being made to bring those responsible for this attack to justice.
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