Suspected arson at power substation near Cologne, Germany
A suspicious incident occurred overnight on September 2 at a power substation near Cologne, with police suspecting deliberate action and a possible link to an earlier attack in Brandenburg. No consumers lost power.
German police are investigating a suspicious incident at an electricity substation in the Bergheim district, west of Cologne. The case was reported by broadcaster Tagesschau, with the information relayed by the outlet "Yevropeiska Pravda".
In the evening, several lines at the substation reportedly failed, initially attributed to a possible short circuit. However, police soon stated they suspected "deliberate action, not a technical fault."
The incident did not cause any power outages for consumers. Investigators are now examining a possible connection between this case and a recent act of sabotage on the power grid in the state of Brandenburg. A police spokesperson said it was still "too early" to disclose further details, though the investigation is moving quickly.
Forensic experts worked at the scene for much of the night and were expected to continue through the day, searching in particular for tools potentially used by the perpetrators.
Wider context
Over the past year, Germany has seen a series of attacks on energy infrastructure, with left-wing radical groups claiming responsibility for some of them. Separately, it was previously reported that the Baltic states want to set up joint reserves of power equipment for use in emergency situations.
