Sabotage Claim Filed After Device Found at German Dormagen Substation

Authorities in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia are investigating a suspected sabotage attempt at a power substation in Dormagen, a town located between Cologne and Düsseldorf. A passer-by discovered a suspicious object on Thursday evening in the facility's grounds in the Gohr district, prompting police to cordon off the area.

Rockets and a written claim

A Cologne police spokesperson said investigators had received a written statement claiming responsibility, which also mentioned other recent incidents in the states of NRW and Brandenburg. The Bild newspaper reported that the object consisted of self-made rocket launchers equipped with timers and copper wire — devices designed to trigger a short circuit in the high-voltage grid. Police declined to officially confirm that characterisation.

Pattern of serial attacks

The Dormagen find follows a string of similar incidents earlier in the week. In Bergheim, west of Cologne, cables were draped over overhead lines on Tuesday, causing a short circuit; investigators later found multiple launcher devices there. Hours earlier, a similar attempt was made near the Jänschwalde power plant in southern Brandenburg. Authorities believe the Bergheim and Jänschwalde incidents are connected and constitute politically motivated sabotage. Security forces are inspecting substations across surrounding regions for further planted devices.