Cops Thwart Firebomb Attack on Berlin Station

Police thwarted a firebomb attack on Berlin's central train station yesterday after a worker discovered several incendiary devices hooked up to detonators. The planned attack was claimed by a leftist group protesting Germany's involvement in the Afghan war and demanding the release of suspected WikiLeaks source US Private Bradley Manniing. The discovery of the bombs followed an arson fire near signalling equipment between Berlin and Hamburg that disrupted travel for thousands of passengers. The firebombs were rigged to explode about the same time.

Investigators believe the group—calling itself Hekla, which is also the name of an Icelandic volcano—is responsible for planting the bombs. The same group is now suspected in a May arson attack on German trains. A manifesto linked to that attack also mentioned the name of an Icelandic volcano, reports Der Spiegel. (More Hekla stories.)