German police discover explosive devices targeting major power plant

German police have discovered several improvised explosive devices apparently targeting the Preilack substation near the Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant, one of the country’s major power facilities, while several power lines were damaged.

Authorities said the devices were found at the Preilack substation, an important hub in Brandenburg’s Lausitz power grid that distributes electricity from the nearby Jänschwalde plant, Caliber.Az reports, citing Euronews.

According to media reports, the facility had been targeted repeatedly with rockets, which emergency crews later located and defused.

Grid operator 50Hertz stated that the incident caused a “brief interruption of service,” but all power lines have since returned to operation.

Police confirmed that no one was injured.

Initial findings indicate that the apparent objective was to cause a large-scale power outage in the area surrounding the coal-fired plant. However, the attempt did not result in such an outage, authorities said.

The Cottbus police directorate said the police headquarters in Potsdam had taken over communications regarding the incident, while the Brandenburg Interior Ministry referred inquiries to the same authority.

The Turnow/Preilack substation is located in the municipality of Turnow-Preilack in the Spree-Neiße district of Brandenburg and is connected to the nearby Jänschwalde power plant.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov