Teens place stones on German railway tracks, sparking emergency brake incident

A group of teenagers placed ballast stones on railway tracks between Paderborn and Altenbecken on Thursday evening. The incident caused a train to emergency brake, though all 30 passengers remained unharmed. Authorities are now treating the case as dangerous interference with rail traffic. The incident took place around 7:20 p.m. when the train driver noticed the teenagers near the tracks. An emergency brake was immediately applied, but the train could not stop in time and ran over the stones. The suspected perpetrators then fled the scene on e-scooters.

The Federal Police have launched an investigation and are urging witnesses to come forward. Officials have also warned about the severe risks of tampering with railway infrastructure. Parents are being advised to speak with their children about the potential consequences of such actions.

No injuries were reported among the 30 passengers on board. However, the incident has prompted a strong response from authorities, who are treating it as a serious offence. The Federal Police continue to investigate and seek information from the public.