German authorities have expanded investigations into a series of suspected sabotage attempts targeting power infrastructure after new incidents involving electricity facilities and substations raised fresh security concerns across the country.

The latest developments come only days after an attempted drone attack near Leipzig Airport, adding to growing concerns over the security of Germany's critical infrastructure.

According to Bild newspaper and other German media outlets, investigators are examining an apparent attempt to trigger a short circuit at an electricity grid facility in the city of Dormagen in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Police said they later received a letter claiming responsibility for the act. Authorities are examining the authenticity of the document and whether it is linked to a broader campaign targeting the country's energy infrastructure.

Investigations expand across multiple sites

Following the Dormagen incident, police also cordoned off a transformer substation in the northern town of Ganderkesee after suspicious findings at the site.

According to Bild and regional media reports, officers secured the area on Friday while specialist teams carried out inspections. A spokesperson for public broadcaster NDR said police had discovered material during overnight operations that required an immediate response but declined to provide further details because the investigation remains ongoing.

German security authorities have also widened the investigation to include the Weisweiler substation near Aachen, after the letter claiming responsibility allegedly referred to another possible attack against the facility.

Initial reports indicated that investigators were searching the area for suspected ignition mechanisms or other devices that could have been used to damage critical infrastructure.

According to the contents of the letter cited by German media, the suspected perpetrators claimed the attacks were intended as part of a campaign against the use of fossil fuels. Authorities have not verified the authenticity of those claims.

Police have launched a large-scale search for a suspect believed to be a man from the city of Gevelsberg, who investigators believe may be connected to the incidents.

Earlier incidents raised concerns

The latest cases follow two other suspected sabotage incidents reported earlier this week.

In the first case, authorities opened an investigation into an act of vandalism at a transformer station in Bergheim, also in North Rhine-Westphalia. The damage forced lignite-fired power generating units with a combined capacity of 4,200 megawatts to be temporarily disconnected from Germany's electricity grid, affecting one of the country's major energy-producing regions.

A separate incident occurred in the eastern state of Brandenburg, where authorities said power lines at one of Germany's most critical high-voltage transmission hubs had been damaged using devices containing conductive material.

German authorities have not announced whether the incidents are directly linked but said investigations are continuing as security agencies work to determine whether the attacks form part of a coordinated campaign against the country's critical energy infrastructure.

The series of suspected sabotage attempts has intensified concerns over the protection of Germany's electricity network at a time when European governments have increased security around energy facilities following a number of attacks and threats against critical infrastructure in recent years.(ILKHA)