Germany’s power grid was targeted in two suspected sabotage incidents within 24 hours, disrupting critical electricity infrastructure in the east and west of the country, according to Reuters. Near the Jänschwalde coal plant in Brandenburg, unknown perpetrators damaged high-voltage lines, while a separate incident near Bergheim in North Rhine-Westphalia caused five RWE lignite-fired power units to go offline.
The RWE units represented 4,200 megawatts of capacity, although the broader power supply remained stable. German authorities are investigating whether the incidents are connected and are considering foreign state-directed sabotage and left-wing extremism as possible motives.
Reuters says that the attacks come as Germany faces heightened concerns over hybrid warfare and threats to critical infrastructure, following a recent attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport that German officials have attributed to Russia.
