Police search power stations and substations around Hamburg for explosives
Following acts of sabotage in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg police conducted searches of power stations as a precautionary measure. Officers searched for explosives and rocket-launching devices.
Drones and officers secure energy infrastructure in Hamburg metropolitan area
Police drones circled power stations and substations in the Hamburg metropolitan area in the evening, as Google News DE — Crime (de) reports. At Moorburg power station, riot police patrol vehicles were stationed, while groups of officers searched the surrounding fields.
A similar picture emerged in Wedel in Pinneberg district: officers from the technical unit combed through the fields in long lines, also supported by a drone from the air. Hamburg Energy Works confirmed that police had informed the power station group leader in Wedel of the operation in advance. Tiefstack power station in Hamburg-Billbrook was also inspected.
A police spokesperson stressed that the operation was purely a precautionary measure. There were no concrete indications of an immediate threat. The background appears to be the recent attacks on substations in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, where authorities are investigating on suspicion of unconstitutional sabotage and terrorism.
In addition to the two power stations, police therefore also controlled substations in the Hamburg metropolitan area. The search was for explosives and possible launching devices for homemade rockets.
In the sabotage acts in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, the perpetrators apparently attempted to trigger a short circuit using homemade rockets and wires — in one case successfully. Following a disruption at a substation in Bergheim near Cologne, investigators found six launching devices in a field. In Brandenburg, explosive devices were also discovered near Jänschwalde power station. Minister President Woidke spoke of an "attack attempt" on the power supply. North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Reul stated regarding the disruption near Cologne: "That was intentional." Investigators do not rule out a connection between the acts.
The incidents have triggered a political debate over the protection of critical infrastructure in Germany.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)