Police are searching for suspected power grid saboteur

The police are continuing to search for a man who is said to have carried out sabotage actions against the German power grid. On Friday afternoon, a special team stormed the suspect's vehicle in a forest, but did not find the person they were looking for. According to authorities, the vehicle was a truck that had apparently been converted into a mobile home.

According to North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul, the access took place in Niederzier near Düren in North Rhine-Westphalia. Now the 48-year-old man is probably on foot, said the CDU politician. There is no further evidence that the suspect is particularly dangerous. The Bild newspaper had previously reported on the police operation.

According to ZEIT's research, there are several indications that indicate that the suspect could actually be responsible for the series of attacks on the substations. According to ZEIT information, the man named Daniel V. had never attracted attention with extremism or political statements in the past. He studied medicine, but had not worked as a doctor for a long time. About a year ago he broke off contact with several relatives.

Explosives found in suspect's apartment

During a press conference, Reul had previously said that explosives had been found in the suspect's apartment in Gevelsberg. It was later added that the substances involved were potassium nitrate and potassium perchlorate.

The man is said to have written several letters claiming responsibility for the sabotage attempts. In it he committed himself to the fight against fossil fuels. “According to the current status, we have to assume climate extremism,” said Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) at the same press conference. However, a final assessment is currently not possible.

Detailed knowledge of perpetrators in writing

“We are checking whether the author actually has anything to do with the crimes,” said Reul. As of now, the letters are considered authentic. The letter with the man's name and address contains detailed information about the perpetrators of the acts of sabotage. The suspect's family confirmed to ZEIT that it was Daniel V's handwriting. But Reul also said: "If someone puts his name underneath it, he is not necessarily the one responsible."

In addition to a possible left-wing extremist background, possible “foreign-controlled sabotage” cannot be ruled out. They are checking whether the suspect acted alone and whether there are connections to similar incidents in Brandenburg.

Several danger situations for Germany

On Tuesday, unknown persons carried out acts of sabotage against substations in Bergheim near Cologne and in Jänschwalde in Brandenburg. Apparently fireworks-like rockets containing conductive material were directed over high-voltage lines, causing short circuits or ground faults. On Thursday, police in North Rhine-Westphalia found additional launchers in Dormagen and Weisweiler.

According to Dobrindt, Germany is currently dealing with “different threat and danger situations at the same time.” These included sabotage, espionage, cyberattacks, covert actions, extremism and state terrorism. “We are increasingly protecting ourselves against all of these threats,” said the CSU politician.

Police operation in Saxony

In connection with attacks on the power supply, the police also discovered “unknown explosive devices” in Saxony. "The police forces have secured four objects at two locations in the ongoing operation and are now starting to defuse them," said Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) when asked by the dpa news agency.

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