Bergheim: The next possible attack on the power plant near Cologne Police speaks of intentional act

A failed attack targeting a substation near Bergheim, Cologne, has been confirmed after police discovered explosive-laden devices at the site. According to local authorities, the incident occurred late Tuesday evening when residents reported seeing flashes and hearing explosions. Shortly afterward, a helicopter was spotted circling the facility operated by Amprion. Earlier that day, a similar incident involving pyrotechnic devices had taken place at a substation in Brandenburg, with officials suspecting deliberate sabotage of the power grid. The police have cordoned off the area surrounding the substation and are currently securing evidence. A nearby cornfield has also been sealed off for investigation. Several vehicles from the emergency police arrived at the scene overnight, though their purpose remains unclear. Police helicopters and drones are now monitoring the area. The police have taken over the investigation from the Cologne police department, which is already dealing with a protest camp by opponents of the Rheinmetall company. The police in Essen, one of the main departments handling such scenarios, have assumed responsibility for the case. However, details about exactly what happened at the substation remain uncertain due to the difficulty of conducting a thorough search in the dark. Amprion, one of four companies responsible for Germany's high-voltage transmission network, operates the substation in Bergheim, located just a few hundred meters from the RWE lignite power plant in Niederaußem. The company maintains an extensive 11,000-kilometer high-voltage network transporting electricity from the North Sea to the Alps. Police investigators found six launching devices in a field adjacent to the substation. These devices, according to the public prosecutor’s office, are strong indicators of intentional criminal activity. Authorities are examining whether these devices were designed to launch pyrotechnic items that could lift wires into the air, potentially causing damage to the power lines. Similar incidents were reported earlier in Brandenburg, where a substation near the Jänschwalde power plant was targeted. In both cases, pyrotechnic items were reportedly used. Investigators believe the devices might have been placed on the fields unnoticed for some time and are appealing for public assistance in identifying them. DNA samples from the devices will be analyzed to determine if there are any leads regarding potential suspects. At this stage, however, there are no specific suspects identified. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul expressed concern over the attack, stating that anyone attempting to disrupt the country's infrastructure is essentially attacking the nation itself. He suggested the act could be linked to foreign sabotage or left-wing extremists, emphasizing the need for further investigations. The incident in Bergheim follows another attempted drone attack on Leipzig Airport on August 4th, where two suspects have been identified. One is a Russian national holding a Latvian passport, while the other is a Belarusian citizen with a Russian passport. According to reports, the Belarusian suspect had DNA evidence linking him to the attack. Both individuals are believed to have connections to Russia, with one having ties to a Russian intelligence agency. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that Russia bears direct responsibility for the attack on Leipzig Airport, citing police investigations, patterns of attacks, and intelligence findings. The German government views the incident as part of a series of hybrid actions, although it insists that the country is not currently at war with Russia. In response, Moscow summoned the German commercial attaché, Bernd Finke, following Germany's announcement of new sanctions against Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry closed its embassy and consulate in Germany and increased pressure on Russia's shadow fleet of tankers circumventing sanctions. Meanwhile, in Brandenburg, explosive devices were found at a substation near the Jänschwalde power plant. The devices resembled commercially available fireworks and were described as homemade. Although the general power supply remained unaffected, several transmission lines suffered damage. The regional criminal police have taken charge of the investigation, and the number of devices found was in double digits. Only two of these devices successfully damaged the power lines. The operator of the Jänschwalde power plant, Leag, described the incident as an attack on the substation, leading to a technical failure at one of the plant's blocks. The connection between the alleged attack and the technical failure is under investigation. The substation in question plays a crucial role in distributing electricity generated at the Jänschwalde plant throughout the region. The plant itself was constructed during the final years of the East German era.