Sabotage at Bergheim substation near Cologne: Investigation into left-wing extremism and foreign state interference
Unknown individuals caused a short circuit at Bergheim substation by deliberately introducing cables. North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Reul describes it as an intentional criminal act.
Short circuit in Bergheim: NRW Interior Minister Reul condemns attack on power network
Following a deliberate sabotage action at a substation in Bergheim near Cologne, investigations are underway into constitutionally hostile sabotage. According to BILD, unknown individuals had placed cables over the overhead line and thereby triggered a short circuit.
North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul (74, CDU) left no doubt about his assessment of the incident: "Whoever does this is attacking our country." According to Reul, investigators now assume it was an intentional act. Investigations are being pursued "in two directions: foreign-state-orchestrated sabotage and left-wing extremism".
The attack occurred on Tuesday evening shortly before 8 p.m. Residents reported suddenly visible flashes at the facility and audible explosions — shortly afterwards, a helicopter circled over the premises of grid operator Amprion. Photographs from residents reportedly show arcs at the substation. Initially, speculation arose that a service drone of the electricity provider could have inadvertently struck the high-voltage line. Later, evidence of deliberately introduced cables apparently emerged, which had caused the observed arcs.
Reul emphasised: "This was not a broken switch, this was deliberate, this was a crime." The police would pursue every lead. "We are looking everywhere, every trace is being secured, every metre is being checked twice," he said. By midday, however, the cables had still not been found.
The short circuit affected several lines. Power was lost at five brown coal blocks of the connected power plant. According to police, there were no outages for private households. Energy Minister Mona Neubaur (49, Greens) stated: "Whoever is behind this was unable to disrupt the energy supply." Amprion announced that experts were working together with the competent security authorities to clarify the matter. Three of the affected blocks were to be back online on Wednesday, two further ones over the weekend.
Also on Tuesday, another substation in Brandenburg had been attacked. More than 20 homemade rockets fitted with timers were deployed there, which were intended to transport copper wires into power lines. Investigation is underway there, including on suspicion of forming a terrorist organisation. Reul said a possible connection between both incidents was being examined.
Source: BILD