Climate activist suspected in sabotage cases against German power grid
A 48-year-old man, subject to criminal investigation, is suspected of sabotaging the German power grid. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt points to "climate extremism" as the main lead.
48-year-old suspect sought after attacks on German electricity infrastructure
An "extremist" climate activist, who is the subject of a manhunt, is suspected of carrying out multiple acts of sabotage against Germany's power grid at the beginning of this week. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt made the announcement on Friday, according to News.ro, which cites AFP.
Authorities are searching for a 48-year-old man from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany — a region where most of the incidents have occurred. The interior minister of that state, Herbert Reul, stated at a joint press conference with Dobrindt in Düsseldorf that the suspect is believed to have drafted a letter of responsibility, which has been authenticated by investigators.
During a search of his residence in the same state, police discovered "suspicious substances or objects suspected of being explosives", Reul stated.
The investigation, opened under the charge of "sabotage directed against constitutional order", is pursuing two lines of enquiry: a possible motive linked to left-wing extremism and sabotage "directed remotely by a foreign state", the regional minister explained.
"At this stage, we must proceed from the assumption that this is climate extremism", said Dobrindt, a conservative minister.
Germany has faced repeated attacks on energy infrastructure in recent months, some claimed by far-left activists. On 3 January, the burning of a power facility, claimed by the group "Vulkangruppe" ("Volcano Group"), left over 100,000 people without electricity in Berlin. The investigation in that case remains at an impasse.
This series of attacks has heightened a climate of vigilance regarding the country's critical infrastructure — already strained by acts of sabotage and espionage for which Berlin has accused Moscow since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Source: News.ro