Police in Germany have arrested a 48-year-old man in connection with a series of attacks targeting the nation's power distribution systems. The suspect was apprehended Tuesday near a power plant in Weisweiler, located in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, according to a statement from Cologne police. He was reportedly in possession of explosives and did not resist arrest.
The incidents began early last week with sabotage at a substation near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg. Hours later, a short circuit took power lines out of service at the Bergheim power substation near Cologne. German security officials had previously expressed concern that the attacks could be linked to foreign powers, especially following an alleged drone attack blamed on Russia at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4.
However, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated Friday that the acts were believed to have been carried out by a single activist motivated by climate extremism. The suspect is alleged to have attempted to shoot a thin wire across high-voltage power lines at multiple locations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, and Saxony using homemade rockets, aiming to cause short circuits.
Authorities discovered several launch devices on a high-voltage power line near the Weisweiler plant on Monday, in close proximity to where the suspect was arrested. Investigators also found a letter claiming responsibility, along with other letters discovered at previous sites, German news agency dpa reported. In these letters, the man reportedly justified the attacks as part of a fight against fossil fuels, noting that lignite is still mined and used for electricity generation in the affected states.
Near the arrest site, police also found a tent containing additional explosive charges. These items are currently being examined by a bomb disposal expert. An arrest warrant had previously been issued for the 48-year-old by the Cottbus Public Prosecutor’s Office. Police are continuing to secure evidence at the Weisweiler site and are investigating whether any undiscovered detonation devices have been placed in the surrounding area.