Two attacks, one target: Germany's power grid hit by sabotage again

“The authenticity of the letter is the subject of an ongoing investigation and, at this stage, can neither be confirmed nor ruled out,” a police spokeswoman said, without indicating when the verification results might be available, Spiegel reported.

Police continued their investigation on Wednesday morning at the Turnow-Preilack substation, forcing the temporary closure of state road 50 for several hours.

As part of the investigation into the sabotage of the power grid, police are also examining suspicions that a terrorist organization may have been formed. Investigators are searching for evidence and those responsible, while police have received multiple reports from members of the public that are currently being checked.

David Inderlied / AFP / Profimedia

Unknown individuals used improvised flying devices early Tuesday morning, resembling fireworks rockets, to direct conductive material toward high-voltage power lines.

More than 12 such devices have been found so far. According to the grid operator, the attacks did not disrupt the electricity supply.

Several hours later, a fault occurred at a substation in Bergheim near Cologne. Authorities said launch devices and pyrotechnic materials were also found in the area.

“Indicators suggest that both acts of sabotage are part of a coordinated attack on our energy supply,” Brandenburg Interior Minister Jan Redmann said.

Are the attacks linked?

North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul said a connection between the incidents was likely.

In several sabotage cases in previous years, German security services suspected left-wing extremists, partly because letters claiming responsibility were found at some scenes and were assessed by investigators as authentic.

Redmann, however, said the method used in the Brandenburg attack differed from previous cases. At the same time, he said there were currently no indications that “a foreign power is behind the attacks or that intelligence methods were used.”

In response to the power-grid sabotage, Brandenburg authorities announced plans to establish a new security center and accelerate legislative procedures aimed at protecting critical infrastructure.

According to Redmann, information from the state’s domestic intelligence agency, police, fire and rescue services, and civil protection authorities will be brought together in a so-called “360-degree security center.”