Claim of Responsibility After Attacks on Power Grids in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia

Background: Attacks on Substations

Brandenburg's Interior Minister Jan Redmann expressed concern about the incidents. He said: "Müssen schnell nachrüsten". The state government announced that it would quickly strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure. This includes better fences, additional cameras, and more frequent patrols at sensitive facilities.

North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul also weighed in. He stated in an interview that the sabotage at two locations simultaneously was likely "kein Zufall". Both state governments are in close exchange with the security authorities according to their own statements.

The investigations are being conducted jointly by Brandenburg police and the responsible authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Federal Prosecutor General and the Federal Criminal Police Office were also involved according to police statements. Tips from the population are currently being reviewed, it was said.

Political Reactions

In recent months, there have already been repeated warnings in Germany about possible attacks on energy infrastructure. The domestic intelligence agency had most recently pointed to an increased potential danger. Substations in particular are considered vulnerable points in the power grid, as large parts of regional supply depend on them.

The energy provider operating the affected facilities spoke of a "bedeutenden Sicherheitsvorfall" and announced its own internal investigations. Supply security is currently not endangered, it was said. Nevertheless, the facilities will be more strongly secured in the future and repair work will be accelerated.

Investigations and Witness Appeal

Politically, the incidents sparked additional debates. The CDU in Brandenburg called for faster investments in the protection of energy infrastructure. Pressure also grew at the federal level to revise the existing security concept for critical facilities.

According to police, the perpetrators remain unknown. Investigators set up a dedicated investigation team and simultaneously appealed for witness tips from the population. Information regarding suspicious observations around the affected facilities is requested.