Hamburg Police Inspect Energy Facilities After Attacks on Substations
Hamburg, September 2 – Hamburg police conducted a large-scale operation on Wednesday evening, inspecting several energy facilities in the greater Hamburg area, including the Wedel power plant, which supplies the western part of the city with energy. Officers searched for explosives and launching devices as a precautionary measure, following recent attacks on substations in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. No concrete threats were found during the operation.
Extensive Police Presence Across Hamburg’s Energy Infrastructure
Police drones circled over power plants and substations in the greater Hamburg area on Wednesday evening. At the Moorburg power plant, patrol cars from the riot police were seen, with groups of emergency forces searching the surrounding fields. A similar scene unfolded in Wedel in the Pinneberg district, where officers from the Technical Unit systematically searched fields, supported by a drone. The Hamburg energy utility, Hamburger Energiewerke, confirmed that the police had informed the power plant group leader in Wedel about the operation beforehand. The Tiefstack power plant in Hamburg-Billbrook was also inspected.
Precautionary Measures Follow Sabotage Attempts in Other States
A police spokesperson emphasized that the operation was purely a precautionary measure and that there were no specific indications of a threat to Hamburg’s energy infrastructure. However, the background to these inspections is clearly the recent attacks on substations in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. In those cases, authorities are investigating suspected anti-constitutional sabotage and terrorism. Consequently, Hamburg police inspected not only the two power plants but also several substations in the wider Hamburg area, looking for explosives and potential launching devices.
Brandenburg and NRW Incidents Alarm Hamburg Authorities
In the sabotage acts in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, the perpetrators reportedly attempted to cause a short circuit using homemade rockets and wires, succeeding in one instance. Following the disruption at a substation in Bergheim near Cologne, investigators found six launching devices in a field. The apparent aim was to disrupt the power supply. Investigators do not rule out a connection between the two incidents.
Ensuring Power Supply Security in Uncertain Times
The incidents highlight concerns about the security of the power grid, prompting questions about how robust such infrastructure is against potential attacks. While a hundred percent protection is virtually impossible, authorities are taking proactive steps to mitigate risks and ensure the continued reliability of power supply.
Investigations into Anti-Constitutional Sabotage Continue
In North Rhine-Westphalia, investigations into anti-constitutional sabotage are ongoing after the short circuit at a substation near Cologne. The state’s Interior Minister, Reul, stated, “That was intentional.” The discovery of launching devices further supports the theory of deliberate action. Similarly, near the Jänschwalde power plant in Brandenburg, explosive devices were found at a substation. According to Minister President Woidke, it was an “attempted attack” on the power supply, with the motives still unclear.
Hamburg’s Commitment to Public Safety and Infrastructure Protection
The extensive police operation in Hamburg underscores the city’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents. By taking proactive measures and learning from incidents in other regions, Hamburg aims to maintain a secure and reliable energy supply.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/angriffe-auf-umspannwerke-hamburger-polizei-prueft-energieanlagen,umspannwerke-100.html
