Sabotage targeting power grid infrastructure in western Germany caused a deliberate short circuit at a Bergheim substation, according to police and state officials, forcing the emergency disconnection of five power plant blocks. North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul stated that investigators are probing the incident as a targeted attack, with left-wing extremists or foreign state actors among the working hypotheses.
Bergheim Substation Sabotage Triggers Plant Disconnections
A deliberate short circuit struck a high-voltage substation in Bergheim on Tuesday evening, according to DPA reports confirmed by local police in Essen. Energy company Amprion, which operates the facility located west of Cologne, reported that the incident did not disrupt general power supplies. “General power supply was not affected at any time and system stability was always ensured,” Amprion stated.
Power utility RWE Power confirmed that the grid disturbance forced five blocks across two neighboring lignite power plants offline. The affected units include blocks H, G, and K at the Niederaussem power plant in Bergheim, alongside blocks G and F at the Neurath plant in Grevenbroich. Crews from both facilities mobilized immediately to restore grid connectivity, successfully reconnecting at least one block.
Links to Jänschwalde Substation Attack and Prior Arson
State authorities are actively investigating potential connections between the Bergheim incident and a sabotage attempt in eastern Germany. According to police, unknown perpetrators targeted a substation near the Jänschwalde power plant in Brandenburg on Tuesday morning using homemade rockets. That facility, operated by LEAG—part of Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group through EP Energy Transition—suffered two short circuits and a temporary technical outage at block B before operations resumed.
Did you know? DPA has connected these recent grid attacks to previous arson incidents targeting Berlin’s energy infrastructure, which caused localized blackouts in January and September of past years. Security agencies continue to investigate left-wing extremist groups in connection with those metropolitan disruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was electricity supply interrupted for consumers in Bergheim?
No. According to network operator Amprion, the general power supply remained uninterrupted and system stability was maintained throughout the incident.
Which power plants were affected by the Bergheim short circuit?
RWE Power confirmed that five blocks were temporarily disconnected across two brown coal facilities: the Niederaussem plant in Bergheim and the Neurath plant in Grevenbroich.
Who are the primary suspects in the substation attacks?
North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul stated that authorities are pursuing two main investigative hypotheses, examining whether left-wing extremists or a foreign state actor orchestrated the sabotage.
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