Two Incidents Involving Germany’s Energy Infrastructure Within 24 Hours; Authorities Investigate Terrorism and Sabotage

Germany has been placed on alert following two suspected attacks on energy infrastructure facilities—one in the east and the other in the west of the country—within a 24-hour period.

Police in Brandenburg have launched an investigation into the possible formation of a terrorist organization after several homemade devices struck high-voltage lines near a power plant.

Initial assessments indicate that the perpetrators had placed more than 12 rocket-like devices equipped with propellant charges beneath the power lines.

Only one of them hit the target. The device pulled a cable toward the high-voltage line and caused contact with the ground, resulting in a brief power outage.

Jan Redmann, Brandenburg’s interior minister, said the situation could have been more serious if most of the projectiles had reached their target. He said that constructing and deploying the devices required considerable technical knowledge, while suspecting that the perpetrators had remained and operated in the area for several days.

A second incident occurred at the electrical substation of the company “Amprion” in Bergheim, near Cologne. Police services were alerted after residents reported powerful sparks during the night.

A short circuit affected several lines; however, the electricity supply to residents continued without interruption. The interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia said the initial investigation classified the case as “anti-constitutional sabotage.”

Authorities are examining the possibility that the attack was planned outside Germany or carried out by left-wing extremist circles. So far, no suspects have been identified in either incident.

The events occurred at a time when Berlin is facing growing concerns over sabotage and hybrid activities targeting the country’s strategic infrastructure.