Germany investigates second power-grid sabotage attempt amid hybrid-war fears

German police are investigating a second suspected sabotage attempt against the country's power grid in less than 24 hours, in a case that has intensified concern over possible hybrid threats to critical infrastructure. The inquiry centres on technical infrastructure at a substation near Bergheim in western Germany. Officials said the electricity supply in the area was not interrupted.

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Police described the incident as premeditated vandalism and said it took place on Tuesday afternoon. A police spokesperson did not specify the damage caused, but confirmed that the grid remained stable throughout the episode. Amprion, which operates part of Germany's electricity network and is majority-controlled by RWE, said there was probably external interference.

RWE said separately that the incident caused five lignite-fired power units to go offline, with a combined capacity of 4,200 megawatts, although one 600-megawatt unit had already been reconnected. The investigation comes one day after the German government said it had concluded Russia was behind a drone-related attempt involving a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport last month. Moscow has denied the accusation and said there is no evidence of its involvement.

German authorities have since raised the alert level for possible actions against essential infrastructure, including sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. The timing has added to political tension in the country, where the far-right Alternative for Germany is leading opinion polls ahead of a state election this weekend. The two incidents have sharpened debate in Germany about the security of critical infrastructure and the risk of hybrid warfare.

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That term is being used by officials to describe a mix of conventional pressure and covert disruption, including technical sabotage and information operations. The concern is not limited to one sector, but the power grid is seen as especially sensitive because even limited interference can have wider economic and public-order consequences. The government's public attribution of the Leipzig/Halle case also shows a more assertive stance toward suspected foreign interference.

Germany has faced repeated warnings in recent years about the vulnerability of energy systems, transport hubs and communications networks to sabotage or cyber activity. In this case, investigators are still trying to establish who was responsible for the substation incident and how the damage was carried out. The police have not said whether the two episodes are linked, and no arrests have been reported.

The broader question now is whether the incidents form part of a wider pattern of pressure on German infrastructure. What remains unclear is the extent of the damage at Bergheim and whether the second case was coordinated with the airport incident. Authorities have not released further technical details, and the investigation is continuing.

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