Police discover explosive devices in Saxony after attempts to sabotage electricity supplies

After several attempts to sabotage the power supply in other federal states, the police have now discovered “unknown explosive devices” in Saxony, according to the Interior Ministry. “The police forces have secured four objects at two locations in the ongoing operation and are now starting to defuse them,” explained Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) in response to a dpa request.

Evidence of this came from a letter of confession. Immediately after it was received, intensive search measures were initiated on Thursday. “The Saxon security authorities are in close coordination with all other affected countries,” emphasized Schuster.

The Görlitz police department had confirmed an operation north of Bautzen, but initially did not provide any further details. “Bild” reported that explosive and incendiary devices were found at two substations. The affected objects are located on the border with Brandenburg in the Lusatian brown coal opencast mining area.

There had previously been several attempted sabotages against the energy supply in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia.

SEK storms vehicle in North Rhine-Westphalia

As part of the investigation, the police in North Rhine-Westphalia stormed the vehicle of a man who was suspected of such sabotage actions. The access took place in Niederzier near Düren, said Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU). Now the man is probably on foot and won't get far. According to the information, the police discovered his vehicle in a forest. A special operations team stormed it.

At a press conference, Reul had previously said that there were clear explosives found in the 48-year-old man's apartment in Gevelsberg. According to Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), it is most likely a lone perpetrator and “climate terrorism”.

Attacks on energy supplies in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia

According to the security authorities, they are checking whether the man acted alone and whether there are connections to incidents in Brandenburg. There, unknown people launched an attack on the power supply on Tuesday near the Turnow-Preilack substation not far from the Jänschwalde power plant. In the evening there was a malfunction at a substation in Bergheim near Cologne. According to authorities, launchers and pyrotechnics were found near both locations. It is being investigated for unconstitutional sabotage.

In addition, a suspicious object was recently discovered at a substation in Dormagen between Cologne and Düsseldorf - according to the police, possibly a launching device. There are two letters that are said to come from the wanted man in Gevelsberg. In it he claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on the energy grid in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, it is said.