Man suspected of sabotaging electrical substations arrested in Germany

German police have arrested a 48-year-old man suspected of a series of acts of sabotage against the electricity grid at several locations across Germany. The DPA news agency reported this today. According to the agency, the man attracted police attention near the Weisweiler power plant in western Germany, not far from Aachen. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) newspaper’s website reports that he was arrested during a traffic stop. Police said the man had explosive devices with him when he was arrested and offered no resistance.

Authorities had been searching for the 48-year-old man from Gevelsberg, in the southern Ruhr area, for several days. According to authorities, he tried at several locations in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg and Saxony to use homemade rockets to shoot a thin wire over high-voltage power lines and cause a short circuit, DPA reports.

Most recently, on Monday, several launch devices were discovered near high-voltage wires by the Weisweiler power plant—very close to where police arrested the man. Investigators also found another letter at the scene in which its author claimed responsibility for the acts.

In at least two cases, the perpetrator appears to have succeeded with his plan in recent days. In Bergheim, west of Cologne, a short circuit paralyzed several units at a power plant for several days. Two short circuits were reported at the Turnow-Preilack substation in Brandenburg, near the Jänschwalde power plant. More than 20 homemade rockets are believed to have fired conductive material at high-voltage power lines there. Neither incident caused a power outage.

Last week, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the incidents were probably acts of “climate terrorism” committed by a lone individual. According to media reports, police were searching in this connection for 48-year-old Daniel V. from Gevelsberg in western Germany, who is reportedly opposed to the use of fossil fuels.

Explosives were found on the man when he was arrested. “The items are currently being examined by an explosives disposal expert from the North Rhine-Westphalia State Criminal Police Office,” Cologne police announced. Officers also found a tent in undergrowth containing more explosives.

“Police officers are currently securing evidence at the scene and investigating whether any further, as yet undiscovered explosive devices have been placed in the area,” police said.

The man was sought under an arrest warrant issued last Friday by the public prosecutor’s office in Cottbus, Brandenburg. The first attack on the electricity grid was reported in Brandenburg. The man is suspected of causing an explosion and disrupting public services.

“The arrest of the suspect is an important step in the investigation,” said Oliver Stepien, head of police in Brandenburg.

“The background and context of the crimes must now be clarified further, and the findings carefully assessed,” he added. The investigation is still ongoing, he said.