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🇷🇴 Romania /Environment & Climate

Germany Searches for Climate Activist Over Series of Attacks on Power Grid

From Adevărul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • German authorities are searching for a 48-year-old man identified by German media as Daniel V., who allegedly claimed responsibility for attacks on electricity substations.
  • Police reportedly found suspicious substances and suspected explosive materials during a search of his apartment, while an armed operation in Hambach Forest failed to locate him.
  • Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the case as suspected climate extremism, while state Interior Minister Herbert Reul said attacks on critical infrastructure had no justification.

German authorities are searching for a 48-year-old climate activist suspected of carrying out a series of attacks on the country’s electricity network. German media identified the man as Daniel V., who allegedly sent letters claiming responsibility for the incidents.

Police searched his apartment in Gevelsberg, in western North Rhine-Westphalia, after security authorities and media outlets received the letters. Officials said they found suspicious substances and suspected materials or devices that could be explosive.

The attacks targeted electrical substations in several parts of Germany. They appeared designed to disrupt power supplies to nearby coal-fired power plants and cause widespread blackouts. No major power outage was reported, but generating units at some plants were temporarily disconnected from the grid.

We must proceed on the assumption that this is climate extremism.

· Alexander DobrindtGermany’s interior minister described the suspected motive behind the attacks.

A heavily armed police team also raided a truck in Hambach Forest, North Rhine-Westphalia, which investigators suspected belonged to the activist. They did not capture him. The forest holds strong symbolic importance for Germany’s climate movement, whose activists have protested plans to clear large areas for the expansion of the nearby Hambach lignite mine.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told journalists, "We must proceed on the assumption that this is climate extremism." Herbert Reul said the letters contained detailed descriptions of the alleged attack plans and appeared authentic. He said the suspect justified his actions as part of a campaign against fossil fuels, but added, "Attacking critical infrastructure is a crime. There is no justification for this act and no ideology that can serve as an excuse." The attacks reportedly used devices resembling fireworks to propel wires toward overhead cables and trigger short circuits.

Attacking critical infrastructure is a crime. There is no justification for this act and no ideology that can serve as an excuse.

· Herbert ReulThe North Rhine-Westphalia interior minister condemned the suspected sabotage.
About this summary

Originally published by Adevărul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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