German authorities are investigating a suspected act of sabotage that disrupted rail traffic on a key railway line in North Rhine-Westphalia. On Friday morning, technicians detected a fire in a cable duct near a station in Leverkusen, a city located near Cologne, according to a police statement released Saturday afternoon. The incident caused material damage and led to interruptions in service operated by Deutsche Bahn on one of the region’s busiest routes.

Police indicated that investigators currently believe the fire was deliberately set and have called on the public for any information or witnesses that could assist the inquiry. A far-left group identifying itself as "Komando Angry Birds" claimed responsibility for the incident in a message posted on the online platform Indymedia early Saturday. The group stated that it conducted the sabotage on the railway line north of Leverkusen.

The German rail network, already burdened by years of underinvestment, has seen a rise in sabotage attempts in recent months, most of which remain unresolved. These developments are occurring amid heightened concerns in Germany regarding a range of security threats, including potential sabotage, disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks, with some officials attributing such threats particularly to Russia.

Authorities continue their investigations into the fire and its broader implications for rail safety and infrastructure security as they work to identify those responsible and prevent further incidents.