ATM and Cigarette Machine Explosions Raise Concerns Over Organized Crime in Germany

A series of explosive attacks on ATMs and vending machines highlights the increasing activity of criminal groups targeting cash-based systems.

A cigarette vending machine in Hanau was destroyed in an explosion early Saturday morning, with debris scattered over a 15-meter radius; perpetrators fled the scene, and the amount of stolen cash is unknown.
In Berlin-Lichtenberg, an ATM was blown up inside a shopping center early Friday morning, with suspects stealing an undisclosed amount of cash before escaping.
Two men, aged 30 and 37, were arrested in Berlin on Friday on suspicion of involvement in a series of ATM explosions across multiple German states, including Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Hesse.
Authorities report a sharp rise in ATM explosions in Berlin, with 44 incidents recorded last year—nearly one per week—despite a nationwide decline in such crimes.
Police unions are urging banks to implement stronger security measures, such as fogging systems, alarms, nighttime locks, and advanced video surveillance, to deter future attacks.