Two cases of sabotage against German electricity grid investigated as terrorism and deliberate acts
Police investigating short circuits at transformer station in Bergheim and explosives discovery in Brandenburg. The Brandenburg case is now being treated as terrorism.
German authorities investigate two attacks on electricity infrastructure
Two cases targeting the electricity grid in different parts of Germany are being investigated as terrorism and suspected sabotage respectively, according to Ekstra Bladet.
In one case, several power cables were damaged at a transformer station in Bergheim in North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany on Tuesday evening. Police were called to the scene near Cologne, and video footage shows flashes of light, while residents in the area heard loud bangs. Short circuits were confirmed on several cables, but no power outages were reported.
"We do not assume that this is a technical fault, but a deliberate act," a spokesperson for the local police said according to news agency AFP, describing the incident as a "disruption".
The second case occurred in the state of Brandenburg, approximately 100 kilometres south-east of Berlin. Improvised explosive devices were found at a transformer station, several power lines were damaged, and supply was briefly cut off. On Wednesday, German police announced according to AFP that this case is being investigated as terrorism.
German authorities are generally on high alert against possible attacks on infrastructure. Previously, left-wing groups have carried out sabotage operations in the Berlin area.
The cases coincide with increased German focus on hybrid threats. On Tuesday, Germany's Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, announced at a press conference that Russia was involved in an attempted drone attack against Leipzig/Halle Airport in early August.
"We assume that Germany is the target of further Russian hybrid attacks," said Dobrindt.
Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, rejected the accusation and accused Germany of planting evidence in order to place blame on Russia.
Source: Ekstra Bladet