German police are hunting a 48-year-old man after a wave of attacks on electricity substations that took lignite power plants offline and put critical infrastructure in the national spotlight. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the attacks appear to be the work of 'climate extremism' and may point to a lone perpetrator — though foreign-state-directed sabotage has not been ruled out.

The man, from Gevelsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, is the author of two claim letters that declare a 'fight against fossil fuels.' 'I am not attacking the country, but the fossil-fuel industry,' one of the letters says. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul called the letters authentic and full of detailed perpetrator knowledge, but stressed that their author is not necessarily the attacker.

The manhunt took a dramatic turn when special forces stormed the suspect's vehicle near the Hambacher Forst — a symbolic site of anti-coal protests — only to find it empty. Police found explosive precursors including potassium nitrate and potassium perchlorate at his apartment and believe he is now on foot.

The attacks began on Tuesday, when high-voltage lines near the Turnow-Preilack substation in Brandenburg were hit, causing two short circuits; the line carries power from the nearby Jänschwalde lignite plant. The same evening, a disturbance at a substation near Cologne knocked out five RWE lignite blocks. Further launch devices were found at Dormagen and Weisweiler and, after a tip in the claim letter, in Saxony. In the Jänschwalde case, police are also investigating the formation of a terrorist organization as the search continues.

Sources