The attack on the Reutlingen-West substation on June 8, 2026, draws attention to a series of attacks on the power supply: Berlin-Adlershof and Johannisthal on September 9, 2025; Berlin-Lichterfelde on January 3, 2026; Großkayna and parts of Roßbach on January 10, 2026; and Garching near Munich in late May 2026. In Reutlingen, the fire triggered a widespread power outage, affecting around 7,600 buildings and approximately 40,000 people. Evidence of accelerants, multiple points of origin, and damage to the site points to deliberate arson. Yet, the investigations to date primarily demonstrate how rarely authorities present concrete findings to the public following such attacks.
Investigations yield meager results
So far, only the Berlin attack of September 2025 has resulted in specific suspects being named. Police and prosecutors have identified four individuals—aged 28, 31, 35, and 36—in connection with the case. In addition, around 500 officers conducted searches of premises across several federal states. Yet, even in this instance, the case has not—publicly, at least—led to formal charges so far.
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The charges include, among other things, sabotage against the constitutional order. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the accused will actually be held accountable for the act. There has been no conviction. Consequently, even the only tangible investigative success rests on shaky ground.
Suspected terrorism, no identifiable perpetrators
The attack on the cable bridge in Berlin-Lichterfelde in early January 2026 struck a central network node. Around 45,000 households and approximately 2,200 commercial units temporarily lost power. Heating supplies, schools, and other facilities were also affected. The damage was extensive, yet investigative progress has been limited so far.
The Federal Public Prosecutor General took over the case due to possible links to terrorism. A claim of responsibility from a group calling itself “Vulkangruppe” (Volcano Group) was deemed credible because it reportedly contained details known only to the perpetrators. Despite this, the authorities have not publicly named any suspects. Thus, the most serious case of all remains without any discernible lead regarding the perpetrators.
Grosskayna and Garching highlight the gaps
In Grosskayna, unknown individuals set fire to a transformer substation in January 2026. The incident affected Grosskayna and parts of Roßbach. Nearly 900 households were temporarily left without power. The grid operator also shut down a substation, causing further points in the network to fail.
The execution of the crime appeared simple. The perpetrators apparently removed a ventilation grille, pushed wood and paper into the facility, and set the material alight. The station was severely damaged and requires replacement. Nevertheless, there is no public information regarding the perpetrators, their motive, or any political background.
Near Garching, two high-voltage pylons burned down in late May 2026. Parts of Ismaning and surrounding municipalities temporarily lost power. The Bavarian central office for combating extremism and terrorism took charge of the case. Authorities also consider a political motive likely, given the choice of target and the method used.
State Security Investigating, but No Results Yet
This series of incidents reveals a clear weakness. Multiple attacks have targeted electricity pylons, a cable bridge, a transformer station, and a substation. Yet, there are concrete suspects in only one instance—and even in that case, there has been no public conclusion to the proceedings.
Authorities have not established the existence of a shared network behind the acts, nor have any solid links between the cases been made public. The perpetrators have managed to strike critical power infrastructure repeatedly, while the investigation shows little visible progress. This lack of results stands in stark contrast to the extent of the damage.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: Tagesschau (09.06.2026) – Polizei Berlin (24.03.2026) – BKA (27.01.2026) – rbb (05.01.2026) – MDR (10.01.2026) – Merkur (26.05.2026) – Zeit (10.01.2026) – Sueddeutsche Zeitung (26.05.2026)