Sabotage of German power network – suspect revealed motives in letter
A 48-year-old man from Gevelsberg is suspected of sabotaging Germany's power network and has admitted to his actions in a letter. He cited opposition to fossil fuels and the arms industry as his motives.
German manhunt: suspected saboteur revealed motive for action
Investigators conducting an inquiry into a series of sabotage attempts on Germany's power network have received a letter from the author admitting to these actions. According to RMF24, he cited "immeasurable suffering" caused, in his view, by the exploitation of fossil fuels as his motive. In the letter he also criticised the arms industry and "genocide in Palestine" – reported the Web.de portal. Investigators considered the letter to be genuine.
The suspect is a 48-year-old man from Gevelsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia. The interior minister of this federal state, Herbert Reul, reported that clear traces of explosive materials were found in his flat. Police also conducted a search of the suspect's car in the town of Niederzier. Reul noted that the wanted man is not considered particularly dangerous. The dpa agency stressed that the man is likely moving on foot and will not escape far.
Over the past week, at least two confirmed sabotage attempts on energy infrastructure have occurred. The first took place in Brandenburg, in the municipality of Turnow-Preilack – approximately 20 km from the Polish-German border. Authorities discovered explosive devices at a transformer station near the Jaenschwalde coal-fired power plant. The second attempt involved Bergheim in western Germany, where there was "intentional" damage to technical infrastructure – a short circuit resulted in the failure of several lines.
In parallel, according to dpa, a police operation is also ongoing in Saxony – north of Bautzen – in connection with a similar incident. Details have not been disclosed for the benefit of the investigation. The Bild newspaper reported on the discovery of explosive and incendiary devices at two substations in the Lusatian lignite mining region.
Source: RMF24