Sabotage in Germany: suspicious devices found at electricity substations in several regions
Several suspicious devices have been discovered at electricity substations in Germany in North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg. Investigators suspect sabotage with anti-constitutional aims.
Suspicious devices in electricity infrastructure: German police investigate sabotage cases
Google News LT — Crime (lt) reports that in Germany on Thursday evening, a passer-by discovered a suspicious object at an electricity substation in Dormagen; the investigation is still ongoing. A police spokesman indicated that it could be a "suspicious triggering device".
The German newspaper "Bild" reports that homemade rocket launching devices were found at the substation with timing mechanisms and copper wires attached to them. Police have not officially confirmed this information.
Authorities are investigating other substations in neighbouring regions to determine whether suspicious items were also left there. So far, no damage has been found, except at the substation in Bergheim, west of Cologne.
Earlier, on Tuesday, unknown persons laid cables on overhead electricity lines in an attempt to cause a short circuit. Later, several launching devices were discovered in the same area.
A similar incident was recorded in Brandenburg — near the Jänschwalde power station, homemade devices resembling New Year's fireworks and directed at high-voltage electricity transmission lines were used. More than ten such devices were discovered. The network operator confirmed that electricity supply was not interrupted.
Investigators believe that the incidents in Bergheim and Jänschwalde were sabotage acts carried out with anti-constitutional aims. A police spokesman told news agency dpa that a message claiming responsibility was received, which mentioned several publicly known suspected cases in North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg.
The German newspaper "taz" reported on Thursday evening that it had received a letter concerning the Brandenburg incident — the postmark shows that it was sent from North Rhine-Westphalia. The sender claimed to be acting alone and cited "immeasurable suffering" caused by fossil fuel use as a motive. After examining the letter carefully, "taz" noted that it was impossible to determine with certainty whether its author was also responsible for this incident.
Source: Google News LT — Crime (lt)