Event db6393bd-d9c8-4f5e-8426-dae39af385aa

Approved event from Hybrid War Tracker

Status: Approved Confidence: High Classification: Energy & Infrastructure Attacks > Critical Infrastructure Sabotage > Power grids, pipelines Country: Germany Where: Land Tag: attack Tag: arson Tag: power infrastructure Tag: electricity Tag: Erkrath Tag: Kommando Angry Birds Tag: critical infrastructure Tag: sabotage Tag: environmental activism Tag: Graffiti Tag: Germany Aggressor Confidence: High
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Event Time
2w ago
Created
1w ago
✏️
Updated
10h ago

Summary

Headline: Prosecutor Confirms Attack on Power Supply in Erkrath

Short Summary: On 5 January 2026, an attempted arson attack on a power substation in Erkrath near Düsseldorf was foiled; left-wing group 'Kommando Angry Birds' claimed responsibility.

Extended Summary: The Wuppertal public prosecutor's office confirmed an attempted arson attack on the Erkrath substation on 5 January 2026. Unknown suspects sprayed graffiti on the transformer house with slogans including 'KAB', 'SWITCH OFF', and identified themselves as part of 'Kommando Angry Birds'. The attackers aimed to disrupt power supply by setting fire to transformers, citing environmental concerns as their motive. The attack did not succeed, and the substation remained operational. Authorities have emphasized the seriousness due to the risk of a major power outage, and the investigation is now under the state security division in Düsseldorf. The incident highlights growing threats to critical infrastructure by politically motivated groups.

Description

On or before 5 January 2026, unknown perpetrators attempted to set fire to a transformer house in a substation in Erkrath near Düsseldorf, Germany. The attack was aimed at disrupting the electricity supply and was foiled before causing major damage. Graffiti with the inscriptions 'KAB', 'SWITCH OFF', and a reference to the group 'Kommando Angry Birds' were found on the transformer house. A claim of responsibility appeared on the left-wing platform indymedia by the group 'Kommando Angry Birds', who cited environmental pollution as their motive and said they placed an incendiary device on one of two transformers. Authorities confirmed the attack was an attempted arson targeting critical infrastructure, with potential for a large-scale blackout had it succeeded. Investigations have been taken over by the state security department in Düsseldorf.

Event Classification

Aggressor Event

Rationale

The event describes an attempted arson attack on critical power infrastructure by a left-wing anti-environmental group, constituting hostile aggressor activity. No defensive or preparatory alliance measures are mentioned in the report.

Evidence

Quotes

"The Wuppertal public prosecutor's office has confirmed that there was an attack on the power supply in Erkrath."
"They [unknown perpetrators] tried to set fire to a substation in Erkrath near Düsseldorf but failed."
"The graffiti sprayed includes the abbreviation 'KAB' and the words 'SWITCH OFF', clearly linked to 'Kommando Angry Birds'."
"The group says the motive was the burden on people caused by environmental toxins and claimed to have placed an incendiary device on one of the two transformers."
"Prosecutor Wolf-Tilman Baumert confirmed a sabotage attack and said if it had succeeded, it could have caused a major blackout."
"The investigation has now been taken over by the state security department in Düsseldorf."
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