
Improvised explosive devices damaged power lines at a substation near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg, Germany, on Tuesday, with at least one device detonating. The attack occurred around 8 a.m. local time at the Preilack substation, which distributes electricity from the nearby Jänschwalde plant, according to a police spokeswoman .
No injuries were reported, and there was no major blackout in the area, about 100 km southeast of Berlin. Police discovered multiple homemade projectiles, some of which failed to detonate, and bomb disposal experts remained on site. Grid operator 50Hertz confirmed damage to several lines but stated the general power supply was unaffected .
Brandenburg’s Interior Minister Jan Redmann described the incident as attempted sabotage, stating the perpetrators aimed to trigger short circuits by firing conductive material into high-voltage lines. He noted two successful short circuits caused visible disturbances, including a fireball observed by a 50Hertz employee and earth displacement near the lines . Redmann later clarified that the devices were not conventional fireworks but specially constructed for this purpose .
Power plant operator LEAG reported a technical failure in Block B of the Jänschwalde plant, which has a capacity of 500 megawatts, and was working to restore it by Tuesday evening. The company said it was investigating a possible link to the substation attack .
The Jänschwalde plant, once the center of East Germany’s energy production, is Brandenburg’s largest coal-fired power station. Originally built with six units, only two or three remain operational, though they still supply a significant portion of the region’s electricity. The facility is scheduled to close in 2028 .
Authorities have not identified the perpetrators or their motives. Brandenburg’s Premier Dietmar Woidke condemned the attack, calling it a serious threat to critical infrastructure and urging public vigilance . The state criminal police have taken over the investigation, with the number of discovered devices still under assessment .
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