Germany has been hit by another suspected sabotage incident against its energy infrastructure. Police have launched an investigation after a deliberate attack on an electrical substation in the western town of Bergheim. The incident took place at around 9pm and, according to authorities, did not cause any power outages for residents in the area.

A police spokesman said the investigation was not focused on the possibility of a technical fault, but on a deliberate act. For now, authorities have not given details on how the infrastructure was damaged or on the possible perpetrators. On the same day, another suspicious incident was reported in Brandenburg, in eastern Germany. Power lines were damaged by vehicles transporting conductive materials, raising concerns about the security of the power grid. Transmission operator Amprion said the incident in Bergheim was most likely caused by external interference. However, the company stressed that the incident had not affected the electricity supply or the overall stability of the network.

Meanwhile, energy company RWE announced that, due to the incident, it was forced to temporarily disconnect lignite-fired power plants with a combined capacity of around 4,200 megawatts from the grid.

According to RWE, the power plants in Neurath and Niederaussem are expected to gradually return to operation over the coming days. The company said it is working closely with authorities and the grid operator. The recent incidents have raised concerns in Germany about the threat to critical infrastructure, especially after a series of suspicious events affecting various sectors. German authorities have increased their level of vigilance against possible acts of sabotage, while investigations to determine whether the two incidents are linked are ongoing.