A suspected arson attack on railway infrastructure in Neu Wulmstorf has forced a complete suspension of train services between Hamburg and Cuxhaven. Police say investigators believe the fire was deliberately set to damage tracks and signal lines along the route in northern Germany.
A witness reported flames at a technical building near a level crossing around 1:15 a.m., and a distribution box approximately 50 metres away was also found burning. The fire damaged signalling cables and rail infrastructure, halting services on the stretch between Hamburg-Neugraben and Buxtehude toward Stade. Replacement bus and taxi services have been established between Neugraben and Stade, and between Stade and Cuxhaven. The state security unit has taken over the investigation, and the perpetrators remain unidentified.
An identical cable shaft on the same line in Neu Wulmstorf was set ablaze in November 2025 with no suspects identified. The incident follows a similar arson attack last weekend on the Cologne–Düsseldorf line, claimed by a group calling itself Kommando Angry Birds.