A dramatic incident unfolded on a German high-speed rail service Thursday evening, ending with the arrest of a male suspect accused of threatening a large-scale attack on the moving train, federal law enforcement officials have confirmed. The event left multiple people with minor injuries after homemade explosive devices were ignited onboard.
The train was traveling along a busy intercity route between the western German city of Cologne and the major financial hub of Frankfurt when the emergency broke out, according to reporting from Germany’s national news agency DPA. Responding to the threat, authorities ordered the full evacuation of all passengers and crew at the Siegburg station, a commuter stop located just a short distance outside Cologne, where the suspect was taken into custody.
Witness and law enforcement accounts detail that the suspect barricaded himself inside a train bathroom for a period before being restrained by officers. A search of his belongings following the arrest uncovered a knife stowed in his backpack. Mass-appeal German tabloid Bild additionally confirmed that the suspect ignited multiple firecrackers and threw the lit devices into the main passenger aisle of the train. The resulting blasts caused superficial flesh wounds to several passengers, none of which have been classified as life-threatening as of the initial investigation.
As of Thursday night, German federal police had not released any immediate additional details about the suspect, including his identity, possible motives, or any connection to extremist groups. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing, with authorities yet to issue further updates on whether the threat was tied to a broader plot or the actions of a lone individual.