Explosives
Improvised explosive devices were used Tuesday in a sabotage attack near a coal-fired power plant in Germany, with several electricity lines damaged and supply briefly interrupted, officials said. Several of the devices were found around 8am at the Preilack substation, which distributes power from the nearby Jaenschwalde plant, about 100 kilometres southeast of Berlin.
At least one detonated but others failed to go off, police said. No one was hurt and there was no major blackout. It was the latest in a string of arson attacks around the German capital, with far-left militants often claiming responsibility. Berlin, a key backer of Ukraine, is also on high alert for sabotage plots linked to Russia.
Homemade rockets
Brandenburg state premier Dietmar Woidke condemned the targeting of the power lines. "We take attacks on our critical infrastructure very seriously. Anyone who tries to sabotage our critical infrastructure and paralyse society is attacking all of us. But we will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed or intimidated by criminal activity."
Grid operator 50Hertz said there was a brief interruption of service but all lines are now back in operation. A spokesman told Focus news outlet that homemade projectiles, resembling fireworks typically used on New Year's Eve in Germany, were used. The local newspaper reported they resembled large, homemade model rockets.
The most serious recent attack took place in Berlin in January, causing an electricity outage that left tens of thousands of homes without power for nearly a week in the middle of winter. The far-left "Vulkangruppe" (Volcano Group) claimed responsibility.