German police hunt suspect after three energy sabotage attempts
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German police launched a Europe-wide manhunt for a 48-year-old man suspected of three sabotage attempts on energy facilities in early September. The attacks caused a partial outage at the Jänschwalde power station and short circuits at substations in Bergheim and Dormagen. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said climate extremists were likely behind the incidents.
Key Facts
- Three sabotage attempts targeted German energy facilities between September 1 and September 4, 2026.
- A 48-year-old man from Gevelsberg is suspected of sending handwritten confession letters to the taz and F.A.Z. newspapers.
- Police searched the suspect's family home in Gevelsberg but did not find him there.
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Friday that climate extremists were likely behind the sabotage attempts.
The Attacks
On September 1, a substation at the Jänschwalde power station in Brandenburg partially failed. A short circuit then occurred at a substation in Bergheim near Cologne, followed by an attempted sabotage at another substation in Dormagen. On September 4, police deployed significant forces to search the grounds of the Weisweiler coal-fired power station in Eschweiler near Aachen. Investigators in protective suits found numerous thin wires on the power station grounds.
The Suspect
Two handwritten letters claiming responsibility for the incidents near Jänschwalde, Bergheim, and Dormagen prompted the search in Eschweiler. The letters also announced a planned attack on the substation near Aachen. The author, believed to be a 48-year-old man from Gevelsberg, stated he acted alone and was motivated by opposition to fossil-fuel electricity production. Police said it remains to be verified whether he is the actual suspect or a copycat, but they have strong evidence linking the letter writer to the sabotage. The letters contained details about the crimes that were not yet publicly known at the time they were sent.
Investigation and Response
Law enforcement officers searched the suspect's family home in Gevelsberg but did not find him there. According to dpa, he may be traveling in a truck with a high box-shaped body. Police have issued a Europe-wide warrant for the suspect. Authorities are examining various versions of the events. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Friday that climate extremists were most likely behind the sabotage attempts this week.
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