For almost 15 years, the Federal Prosecutor General has been pursuing the Vulkan group, yet the results remain meager. The state speaks of terrorism against infrastructure, but a manhunt with tangible results is lacking. (cicero: 12.01.26)
Vulkan Group: Investigation Report Without Action
A spokesperson told Cicero that there have been “no arrests or major searches” against the group so far, and that there have been no large-scale raids. According to the authorities, this statement has been true not only since the attack on January 3, but since the beginning of the investigation. While the Federal Prosecutor General is keeping the case open, he is not reporting any visible actions.
The investigation was triggered in 2011 after an attack on the German railway’s power supply, and further attacks followed. In 2021, the Tesla factory was targeted, and in 2024, a construction site in Grünheide was attacked. Investigators consider the series of attacks terrorism, and the Federal Prosecutor General continues to investigate the Vulkan Group, but no concrete measures have been taken. This leaves the manhunt vague, even though authorities officially classify the group as terrorist.
Search Without Faces
In the 1970s and 80s, wanted posters for Red Army Faction (RAF) members were commonplace, so the public knew who to look for. However, a public manhunt requires a court order and substantial suspicion against specific individuals. This appears to be precisely what is lacking, so the search is conducted without names or photos, and the Federal Prosecutor General is offering few leads.
Journalists often use the phrase that investigators are “groping in the dark.” The investigative team at Welt am Sonntag also wrote: “Their members are still phantoms.” While observers in the circles of militant climate activists and left-wing extremists name individuals who argue along similar ideological lines, the search for clues has so far not led to any searches or indictments. Thus, the focus on extremism appears broad but operationally thin, while terrorism remains a present motive.
Infrastructure as a Target
The attacks targeted power lines and thus the supply network, and such attacks immediately disrupt daily life. Trains are canceled, production processes are disrupted, and companies quickly calculate the damages. Especially when it comes to critical infrastructure, many citizens expect a response that goes beyond mere memos.
The Federal Prosecutor General is continuing his investigation into the Vulkan group, leaving the core question unanswered: Who organizes the Vulkan group, and what structures does it employ? As long as arrests are not made and the manhunt fails to identify any suspects, terrorism against infrastructure remains a risk that cannot be measured solely by claims of responsibility.