German security authorities recorded more than 165 suspected cases of sabotage nationwide between January and the end of August 2026. In addition, there were 747 suspicious drone incidents involving a total of 1,068 observed aircraft. Following specific attacks on the power grid in Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein is now also stepping up its security measures. Police and operators are intensifying the protection of power lines, power plants, ports, and other sensitive facilities. In early September, security forces searched the area around the Wedel thermal power plant, among other locations; however, there was no concrete threat to Schleswig-Holstein at that site.
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Attacks on the power grid intended to cause widespread outages
Statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) do not record 165 confirmed attacks. Instead, the figures cover more than 165 suspected cases of sabotage up to the end of August, including certain instances of reconnaissance. Authorities separately logged 747 suspicious drone incidents. Consequently, the two figures should neither be equated nor aggregated. Nevertheless, the overall picture reveals a significant concentration of security-related incidents within a span of just eight months.
The attacks on September 1 demonstrated just how real the danger can be. Near Turnow-Preilack in Brandenburg and Bergheim-Rheidt in North Rhine-Westphalia, modified rockets were used to launch wires onto high-voltage power lines. This resulted in actual short circuits. In Bergheim, two nearby lignite-fired power plants had to be temporarily shut down. Additionally, the power supply to an adjacent town was briefly disrupted. Federal prosecutors believe the acts were intended to trigger widespread power outages.
Federal Prosecutor’s Office Investigates Acts of Sabotage Against the Constitutional Order
On September 8, investigators arrested a 48-year-old German national near the Weisweiler power plant. Two days later, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office took over the case due to its significant importance. Investigations are underway regarding attempted and completed acts of sabotage against the constitutional order, as well as the disruption of public utility operations. The allegations concern facilities in Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has been tasked with leading the ongoing investigation.
However, nationwide figures from the BKA extend well beyond this specific series of attacks. Since the beginning of the year, federal and state authorities have recorded an additional 112 offenses linked to espionage. In 26 of these cases, there is a suspected link to espionage activities intended for sabotage. With 21 recorded espionage-related offenses, Schleswig-Holstein—alongside North Rhine-Westphalia—ranked second, trailing only Brandenburg. Consequently, these recent attacks are occurring within an already tense security environment.
Schleswig-Holstein Steps Up Protection for Power Grid, Power Plants, and Ports
Schleswig-Holstein’s Ministry of the Interior initially responded by increasing police presence at key facilities. Furthermore, any unusual incident involving critical infrastructure is to be examined for potential espionage or sabotage. Authorities involve the domestic intelligence agency (Office for the Protection of the Constitution) when necessary. At the same time, grid operator SH Netz has upgraded security fencing and implemented personal access restrictions. The operator also tightened IT security measures and vetted a significant number of employees working in particularly sensitive areas. The company supplies approximately 2.8 million customers across more than 900 municipalities.
On September 8, the state government further expanded its protection strategy. A state-wide platform is being established to catalog, assess, and prioritize energy facilities, ports, and other critical infrastructure based on their importance. In the future, this platform will also record suspicious incidents that fall below the threshold typically required for police reporting. Additionally, the state police plan to acquire and test underwater drones to protect maritime infrastructure. Energy Minister Tobias Goldschmidt is also focusing on increasing grid redundancy to ensure that failed power lines can be replaced more quickly.
However, there are limits to the protection that can be provided in terms of technology and personnel. According to the Association of Local Public Utilities (VKU), Germany operates around 250 substations and approximately 130,000 kilometers of high- and extra-high-voltage power lines. Consequently, it is impossible to secure the entire power grid using police or security personnel. Therefore, a crucial factor is the speed at which operators can isolate damaged facilities, reroute power, and restore the supply. The more than 165 suspected cases of sabotage recorded over an eight-month period highlight the need to consider physical protection and technical resilience as interconnected elements.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: Tagesschau (16.09.26) – NDR (03.09.26) – Der Bundeskanzler (14.09.26) – EuroNews (08.09.26)