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🇩🇪 Germany /Energy & Infrastructure

Greens demand stronger protection for critical infrastructure after attacks on power supply

From Die Zeit · () German

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

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Unidentified attackers targeted power infrastructure near Jänschwalde in Brandenburg and Bergheim near Cologne within hours of each other.
  • Authorities found launch devices and pyrotechnics near both sites and are investigating possible anti-constitutional sabotage, including foreign-directed activity and left-wing extremism.
  • Green lawmaker Irene Mihalic called for a national security plan during current budget negotiations, while the motive and perpetrators remain unknown.

Germany’s Greens say the country is poorly prepared for attacks on critical infrastructure after two incidents targeted the power supply within hours of each other.

Our country is only very inadequately prepared for attacks on critical infrastructure, and that must change urgently.

· Irene MihalicThe Green lawmaker criticized the government’s preparedness and demanded a broader security plan.

Green parliamentary secretary Irene Mihalic accused Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of failing to provide a clear response. “Our country is only very inadequately prepared for attacks on critical infrastructure, and that must change urgently,” she told Handelsblatt. She called for Dobrindt to present a comprehensive security plan during the ongoing budget negotiations.

On Tuesday morning, unidentified people attacked the power supply near the Turnow-Preilack substation, close to the Jänschwalde power plant. Authorities said the attackers used homemade devices resembling fireworks to direct conductive material toward high-voltage lines. That evening, a substation in Bergheim near Cologne suffered a disruption after cables were placed over an overhead line, causing a short circuit, according to North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul.

We expect the Federal Interior Minister to present a comprehensive concept for security in our country during the current budget negotiations and finally do his homework on protecting critical infrastructure.

· Irene MihalicMihalic called on Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt to propose a national approach to infrastructure protection.

Authorities found launch devices and pyrotechnics near both locations. They said the equipment may have been installed some time ago. Investigators believe the incidents involved anti-constitutional sabotage, but they have not identified those responsible or established a motive.

Many parallels

· Herbert ReulThe North Rhine-Westphalia interior minister described similarities between the two power infrastructure incidents.

Reul said investigators saw “many parallels” between the cases. Authorities are examining all possibilities, including foreign-directed sabotage and left-wing extremism. No group has claimed responsibility, and investigations continue in both Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia.

We are examining two possibilities: foreign-directed sabotage and left-wing extremism.

· Herbert ReulReul outlined two investigative avenues being considered by authorities.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. 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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