Police Suspect Deliberate Act After Substation Disruption in North Rhine-Westphalia

Police in Germany's Rhein-Erft district have ruled out a technical fault after a disruption at an electrical substation and are investigating a suspected criminal act.

The incident occurred Tuesday evening at a substation in Rheidt, a district of Bergheim in North Rhine-Westphalia. Police were called at about 8 p.m. after a technical disruption. Initial findings indicate that a short circuit caused several lines to fail, although the general electricity supply remained unaffected.

“We do not currently believe this was a technical fault, but rather an intentional act, meaning a criminal offense,” a police spokesman in Essen said. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or the background to the incident.

The substation is operated by energy supplier Amprion. Essen police have taken over the investigation and said they are coordinating closely with Amprion and grid operator RWE.

The case emerged on the same day that unidentified people allegedly tried to cause short circuits on high-voltage lines near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg. Authorities said the attempt succeeded in two cases and are investigating suspected sabotage. The investigation in Bergheim is continuing.

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We do not currently believe this was a technical fault, but rather an intentional act, meaning a criminal offense.