Germany probes suspected power substation sabotage as Russia summons envoy

German authorities are investigating two suspected sabotage attacks on electricity substations in different parts of the country, with one case also being examined as a possible terrorism offence. The incidents, in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, have added to concern in Berlin about attacks on critical infrastructure. They come as Germany separately faces diplomatic fallout over its accusation that Russia was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport.

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Police said improvised explosives were fired early on Tuesday at a site in eastern Brandenburg, damaging power cables and prompting a terrorism probe. In the second case, investigators said unknown perpetrators caused a deliberate short-circuit by targeting overhead power lines at a substation in Bergheim, in North Rhine-Westphalia. Regional interior minister Herbert Reul said officials were looking into whether the attack was directed by a foreign state or linked to left-wing extremism.

Neither incident caused widespread power cuts, but operations at nearby coal-fired power stations were affected. Reul said the cases showed that sabotage and hybrid attacks were not distant threats but were happening in Germany itself. Authorities have not said publicly whether the two substation incidents are connected, and the investigations remain at an early stage.

The cases matter because they involve energy infrastructure that is central to daily life and industrial activity. Even when outages are limited, attacks on substations can force security responses, disrupt operations and raise questions about the resilience of national networks. Germany has faced repeated attacks on electricity infrastructure in the past, and officials have said some earlier cases were claimed by far-left militants.

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The latest developments also sit within a wider European debate about suspected Russian hybrid activity. On the same day, Germany formally blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month and announced diplomatic counter-measures. Russia responded by saying it was summoning Germany's charge d'affaires, underscoring the political tension surrounding the allegations.

What remains unclear is who carried out the substation attacks, whether they were coordinated and whether further incidents are being examined. German police and regional officials are expected to continue their inquiries, while the diplomatic dispute over Leipzig is likely to remain active. The next developments will depend on forensic findings, any claims of responsibility and further statements from German, Russian and European officials.

German authorities are investigating two suspected acts of sabotage involving critical infrastructure, one at Leipzig/Halle airport and another near a power substation in Bergheim. The cases emerged within about 24 hours of each other and have intensified concern in Berlin and Brussels about hybrid threats targeting Europe. Officials have linked the incidents to a broader pattern of pressure on infrastructure, although the investigations are still ongoing.

In the Leipzig case, German officials said a drone carrying explosives was found inside the airport perimeter in early August after a cargo aircraft made an emergency landing following a mid-air collision. The device was discovered together with a detonator, and police later destroyed the drone using a robot. Germany has blamed Russia for the incident, while Moscow has denied the accusation and rejected what it called anti-Russian claims.

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A separate case is being examined near Bergheim, where police are investigating suspected sabotage against an electricity substation. The two incidents have not been publicly linked by investigators, but they have been discussed together by European officials as examples of the risks facing transport and energy networks. Ursula von der Leyen said the Leipzig incident showed that hybrid attacks are now a "new normal" in Europe and warned that critical infrastructure must be treated as a frontline target.

The cases matter because they involve systems that are central to daily life and economic activity. Airports and power networks are difficult to protect fully, and even unsuccessful attacks can force costly security responses, disrupt operations and raise political tensions. The European Commission president said the alleged use of military-grade material in Leipzig would have caused major damage and deaths if it had succeeded, underlining the potential scale of the threat.

The Leipzig case has already triggered diplomatic fallout. Germany summoned the Russian ambassador for explanations, and Russia later summoned Germany's ambassador in response. German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said the incident fits a known pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe, a view echoed by EU leaders who have warned of repeated airspace violations, drone disruptions and attacks on critical infrastructure.

What remains unclear is whether the two German cases are connected, who carried them out and whether further incidents are being investigated. Authorities have not publicly detailed the full evidence behind the Bergheim inquiry, and the Leipzig case has not been resolved. The next developments are likely to come from police findings, possible diplomatic statements and any further assessment from German and EU security officials.

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