Germany launches nationwide manhunt after series of power grid sabotage attempts
Following several sabotage attempts at substations in North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg, German police are searching for a man who claimed responsibility in a letter. Meanwhile officers responded to several more sites, though not all incidents were confirmed as sabotage.
Manhunt underway
German police have launched a nationwide search for a man identified as Daniel V., who according to the tabloid "Bild" comes from Gevelsberg in the Ennepe-Ruhr district of North Rhine-Westphalia. Both "Bild" and "Welt" report that the man allegedly wrote a multi-page confession letter, admitting to the attacks and describing in detail the devices allegedly used. "Bild" says the letter was sent to its own newsroom, while "Welt" cites the newspaper "taz" as having received a letter about the Brandenburg incident, postmarked in North Rhine-Westphalia. Police stress it remains unclear whether Daniel V. is actually behind the attacks or merely someone claiming credit.
New incidents at several locations
On Thursday evening, a passerby discovered a suspicious object at a substation in Dormagen, a town between Düsseldorf and Cologne — reportedly a launching device similar to those previously used to cause short circuits at substations in Bergheim near Cologne and near the Jänschwalde power plant in Brandenburg. According to "Bild", timers and copper wires were attached to the devices. No damage was caused in Dormagen, and police say the investigation there is still at an early stage.
On Friday morning, a large police operation built up near the Weisweiler power plant close to Aachen, since the site was named in the confession letter as a possible target. Forensic teams in protective suits and respirators searched a field and shrubbery near the plant and a nearby substation in Eschweiler. Authorities have not disclosed whether anything was found.
Meanwhile, in Ganderkesee in Lower Saxony's Oldenburg district, police responded overnight to an open switch cabinet at a substation. After a thorough search involving a helicopter, police dogs and the technical relief agency (THW), no suspects or damage were found. Why the cabinet was open remains unclear.
Possible motive
Several media outlets, including "Welt", report that the confession letter cites opposition to fossil fuels as the motive, referring to the "immeasurable suffering" caused by their use. Police have not officially confirmed this detail. Notably, "taz" states that the letter it received does not mention the Bergheim attack at all, raising further questions about whether a single person is truly responsible for all the incidents.
