Sabotage at Jänschwalde substation: homemade rockets, two short circuits
Several homemade explosive devices were discovered at a substation in southern Brandenburg. Two sabotage acts succeeded, and a power plant unit switched off.
Attack attempt on energy infrastructure in southern Brandenburg
According to n-tv, there were multiple acts of sabotage at the Turnow-Preilack substation in Spree-Neiße district on the morning of the incident. Unknown perpetrators used homemade aircraft that resembled commercial fireworks to introduce conductive material into high-voltage power lines, with the aim of triggering short circuits.
Brandenburg's Interior Minister Jan Redmann confirmed: "In two cases, it was successful in introducing conductive material into the high-voltage power line." In further cases, this fortunately failed. No people were harmed. Minister President Dietmar Woidke described the incident as an "attack attempt" and condemned the act.
Double-digit number of additional devices found
The site was further searched, and bomb disposal experts were on site. Redmann spoke of a double-digit number of additional devices found. "We take this incident very, very seriously because the manner in which the act was committed would certainly have been suitable to cause considerable damage," the minister said.
Around 7.30 a.m., possible property damage to a line was detected. The Brandenburg state criminal police took over the investigation. A fireball was visible, Redmann explained – presumably the moment of a short circuit in the high-voltage line, which was then diverted into the earth. He was unable to confirm a detonation of an explosive device so far.
Power plant unit automatically switched off
Energy company Leag stated that the Turnow-Preilack substation is the hub through which electricity generated at Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant is fed into the 50Hertz transmission network. Following the attack, Block B of the power plant automatically switched off as a safety measure. The block was expected to return to the grid later that evening.
Network operator 50Hertz reported that despite the sabotage, no power outages occurred. The weather with sunshine and wind also helped, as renewable sources were able to compensate for the lost capacity. Redmann made clear that the devices used were "certainly not fireworks", "but rockets that were specifically manufactured for this purpose".
Perpetrators unknown – investigation proceeding in all directions
The motive of the perpetrators remains unclear. "The investigation is currently proceeding in all directions," Redmann said. He pointed out that there had been attacks on the electricity grid from the left-wing extremist spectrum in the region in the past. At the same time, one could not rule out "that foreign powers were behind this attack or third parties whom we do not yet know today". One thing was clear, however: it had been systematic action.
Background: Several attacks on electricity grid in recent past
The incident is part of a series of attacks on energy infrastructure. In January, suspected left-wing extremists set high-voltage power lines on fire near a power plant in south-west Berlin. Around 45,000 households as well as more than 2,200 companies, hospitals and care homes were without electricity for days. The so-called "Vulcan groups" claimed responsibility for the attack, citing the struggle against capitalism as their motive.
In March 2024, unknown individuals set fire to a power pylon that also supplies the Tesla factory in Grünheide near Berlin. Production was consequently halted for days.
The Preilack substation serves the supraregional and regional distribution of electricity generated in Jänschwalde. The power plant itself, which was constructed between 1976 and 1989 as the last new power plant of the GDR, is to be completely shut down by the end of 2028.
Source: n-tv