Germany Probes Two Sabotage Attacks on Power Grid

German authorities were Wednesday investigating two attacks on electricity substations in different parts of the country, the latest suspected sabotage targeting critical infrastructure. Police launched a terrorism probe over the first incident, which saw improvised explosives fired early Tuesday at a site in eastern Brandenburg state, damaging power cables.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. In the second sabotage attack, unknown perpetrators allegedly deliberately caused a short-circuit by targeting overhead power lines at a substation in Bergheim in North Rhine-Westphalia state. North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul said officials were probing whether the attack was directed by a “foreign state” or left-wing extremism. Neither attack caused widespread power outages, although operations at nearby coal-fired power stations were affected. Germany has faced repeated attacks on electricity infrastructure, with far-left militants claiming responsibility in some cases. Berlin, a key supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia, is also on alert for Moscow-backed sabotage plots. “More sabotage, more hybrid attacks -- interference like this is not happening far away, it’s happening right on our doorstep,” Reul told a press conference. “And anyone who acts this way is not just trying to hit cables; they’re trying to hit our country.” The attacks came the same day that Germany formally blamed Russia for an attempted “hybrid attack” involving an explosive-laden drone at a strategic airport in Leipzig last month and announced diplomatic counter-measures. Other Topics of Interest Drone Incident in Leipzig: the Trail Leads to Russia The German Government is holding Russia responsible for the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. - Latest infrastructure attack - In the Bergheim incident, police were called to the substation late Tuesday. Perpetrators are suspected of causing a short-circuit in overhead power lines by placing “conductive material” on them, according to officials. Energy company RWE said five power-generating units at two of its coal-fired plants in the region were knocked out by the disruption at the substation, although there was no widespread disruption for customers. Three of the units were expected to go back online later Wednesday while the two others should be restarted at the weekend. The earlier attack in Brandenburg saw improvised explosives, which resembled large fireworks, fired at a substation in Preilack, causing damage to power cables and a brief supply disruption. The substation distributes power from the nearby Jaenschwalde plant. Police announced Wednesday they had launched a terror probe into that incident. They are also investigating the attack on suspicion of disrupting public services and destroying essential equipment, according to a statement. Reul said authorities were trying to figure out if there was a link between the two attacks, adding: “We are in close contact with our colleagues in Brandenburg.”