Unmanned backpack on Intercity Express prompts police response, resulting in train disruptions, as reported by BPOLI MD
On September 5, 2025, an unattended piece of luggage was discovered in the toilet area of an Intercity-Express train traveling between Berlin and Frankfurt am Main. The news about the unattended luggage originated from the Federal Police Station Magdeburg.
At 14:00, the Federal Police were informed about the suspicious item. As a precautionary measure, parts of the train were evacuated, and later, the entire Intercity-Express was evacuated. The contents of the backpack could not be seen, which added to the concern.
A duty dog handler and his explosives detection dog arrived at the scene at 15:06. Fortunately, the dog did not show any behavior indicative of explosives, and the piece of luggage was deemed safe.
The unattended luggage caused a total delay of 87 minutes for eleven trains, including the affected Intercity-Express. The Intercity-Express was partially delayed.
A phone number was found in the backpack, leading to the identification of the 16-year-old German owner. The mother of the owner stated that her son had accidentally left his backpack on the train. The backpack contained sports and school items.
The piece of luggage was handed over to the lost and found office of the German Railway at Halle (Saale) Central Station. The Federal Police Station Magdeburg can be contacted for further questions. Their contact details are: +49 (0) 391-56549-505, e-mail: [email protected], and website: www.bundespolizei.de. The Twitter handle for the Federal Police Station Magdeburg is @bpol_pir.
The Federal Police emphasized the importance of keeping an eye on luggage and not leaving it unattended, as it can lead to police interventions with financial consequences and inconvenience for other passengers. They remind everyone to be vigilant and report any unattended items to the authorities immediately.
