German authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with a series of sabotage attacks on the nation's power grid. The Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office and Cologne Police announced the arrest on Tuesday but offered few immediate details regarding the suspect or the specific incidents.
Investigators had been searching for a 48-year-old man from Gevelsberg in connection with the sabotage of electrical substations across three German states. The attacks have led to power-generating units at some plants being temporarily taken offline.
According to media reports, the suspect has claimed responsibility for the attacks in letters. These handwritten letters reportedly contained information not yet made public and were signed with the first name Daniel. Police also stated that explosives were discovered during a search of the suspect's residence.
In one instance in Saxony, police located 21 devices near high-voltage power lines over a single weekend. German Interior Minister Armin Schuster acknowledged the potential for a regional blackout resulting from these acts but cautioned against premature conclusions, noting the unusual nature of the alleged crimes and the suspect's confessions.