Archive · 5 Sep 2026
German Police Find Explosives Near Power Lines Amid Sabotage Wave
German police found 12 homemade explosive devices near power lines.
The devices were in two areas in eastern Germany.
Police safely removed and disabled them.
The power system was not damaged, and homes did not lose electricity because of these devices.
Other attacks or attempted attacks have recently targeted Germany’s energy infrastructure.
A 48-year-old man reportedly claimed responsibility in letters.
He said he wanted to target the fossil-fuel industry.
Germany’s interior minister described the findings as a possible case of climate extremism.
Police found 12 homemade explosive devices near overhead power lines in eastern Germany.
Eight devices were discovered near the Bärwalde substation and four near the Graustein substation.
Specialist units defused the devices; no damage or electricity disruption was reported.
The discoveries followed other incidents affecting or targeting Germany’s energy infrastructure.
Authorities are searching for a 48-year-old man who claimed responsibility and cited opposition to fossil fuels.
- Who
- German police, specialist units, and authorities; a 48-year-old man is being sought after claiming responsibility.
- What
- Police discovered and defused 12 explosive devices intended to damage high-voltage power lines.
- When
- The devices were reported in a Saturday press release, following several energy-infrastructure incidents in recent days.
- Where
- Near the Bärwalde substation south of Lippen and the Graustein substation east of Schleife, in eastern Germany.
- Why
- Authorities said the devices were intended to induce short circuits; the man who claimed responsibility said he wanted to target the fossil-fuel industry.
Authorities’ Assessment
Claimed Suspect Motive
Nature of the incidents
Authorities’ Assessment
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the week’s findings pointed to a case of climate extremism, while police are investigating several incidents targeting energy infrastructure.
Claimed Suspect Motive
The man sought by police reportedly claimed responsibility in letters and said he wanted to target the fossil-fuel industry.
Impact of the latest discovery
Authorities’ Assessment
Authorities said the devices were intended to damage high-voltage lines and treated them as a serious security threat.
Claimed Suspect Motive
The devices caused no reported damage or electricity disruption because specialist units defused them.
- Devices found
- 12 homemade explosive devices
- Locations
- Near the Bärwalde and Graustein substations in eastern Germany
- Intended effect
- Damage high-voltage power lines by inducing a short circuit
- Result
- All devices were defused; no damage or electricity disruption occurred
- Suspect
- Police are searching for a 48-year-old man who claimed responsibility in letters
- Official characterization
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the findings a case of climate extremism
- Related incidents
- Recent incidents included attacks or attempted attacks near substations and coal-fired power plants