Germany Investigates Series of Sabotage Attempts on Electrical Infrastructure

German police are investigating a series of suspected sabotage attempts targeting electrical substations across the country. The most recent incident occurred on Friday at a substation in Dormagen, located between Cologne and Dusseldorf, where police found a suspicious object. A center left source reports that the object may be a launching device, while another report cites Bild stating it could be a rocket launcher. This event follows at least two other suspected attacks this week in the states of Brandenburg and North Rhine Westphalia, as well as an incident involving an open electrical cabinet at a substation in Lower Saxony.

Authorities are considering multiple theories regarding the perpetrators. A center left source notes that police received a letter claiming the attacks were motivated by a fight against fossil fuels, suggesting the involvement of far left activists. However, investigators have not ruled out state sponsored sabotage. The director of the Criminal Police, Michael Esser, indicated that similarities between the devices found suggest a coordinated campaign rather than isolated events. Additionally, a center left source mentions a separate investigation into a fire near the offices of defense company Rohde and Schwarz in Munich, where two Bulgarian nationals were detained.

The timing of these events has drawn significant attention. A center source reports that a German Interior Ministry spokesperson described the timing as no coincidence, given that they occur just days before state elections in Saxony Anhalt. Polling indicates that the far right Alternative for Germany party could potentially win an outright majority in that state. A center left source frames these incidents within a broader context of hybrid operations attributed to Russia, noting that Berlin recently accused Moscow of a failed drone attack at Leipzig airport.