German police investigate another suspected attack on an electrical substation

German police are investigating a possible act of sabotage at an electrical substation in Dormagen, between Cologne and Düsseldorf. It is the third incident of this kind reported in Germany within a week.

According to broadcaster ntv, investigators have obtained a claim of responsibility that also refers to two incidents reported on Tuesday. Several media outlets said the statement cited “the fight against fossil fuels” as the motive.

Police are already investigating suspected sabotage at a substation near Cologne, including the possibility that a foreign state or left-wing extremists directed the act. They have also opened a terrorism investigation into an attempted attack on the electricity network in the eastern state of Brandenburg.

In Dormagen, a passer-by found an object that police described as a possible “suspicious launching device.” Bild reported that the objects may have been homemade rocket launchers fitted with timers and copper wires. Focus reported that the author of the claim could be a man from Gevelsberg, between Wuppertal and Hagen. Police are searching for him to establish whether he carried out the sabotage or was merely imitating someone else.

Police are also inspecting a substation near Aachen because the claim of responsibility refers to another incident there.