Explosive devices and improvised rockets target German power substation in Turnow-Preilack

Substation targeted in Brandenburg

Emergency services deployed bomb disposal technicians to the Turnow-Preilack transformer substation in Brandenburg on Tuesday, 1 September 2026. The facility is located in the Spree-Neisse district near Cottbus, close to the state border with Saxony and between 20 and 30 kilometres from the Polish border. Police officers and explosive ordnance disposal units discovered several improvised incendiary and explosive devices on the premises, alongside homemade rocket launching apparatuses. A spokeswoman for the Brandenburg Police Headquarters in Potsdam stated that while not all of the devices detonated, at least one explosion occurred at the site. Around 08:00 in the morning, technical teams confirmed physical damage to a power transmission line connected to the substation. Technicians subsequently neutralized the remaining devices and secured the surrounding perimeter to eliminate further hazards.

Grid impact and technical disruptions

The electrical substation serves as the primary regional and supra-regional distribution point for electricity generated by the adjacent Jänschwalde power station. The substation sustained more than one projectile strike during the incident, according to initial security assessments. Transmission system operator 50Hertz recorded a brief interruption across multiple power transmission lines, but confirmed that regional electricity supplies remained stable for local consumers. Energy group LEAG, which owns and manages the Jänschwalde plant, stated that no workers suffered injuries during the attack. However, LEAG reported a concurrent technical failure at Block B within the power plant, prompting engineers to investigate whether the operational failure was directly linked to the substation damage.

Investigation and official reactions

The Brandenburg State Criminal Police Office took over the investigation on Tuesday to identify the perpetrators and determine how the devices were constructed. Investigators have not released findings regarding the motives or exact identities of those responsible for placing the explosive devices. Plant owner LEAG treats the incident as a deliberate attack on its critical infrastructure. Brandenburg Infrastructure Minister Robert Crumbach issued a public statement condemning the disruption.

The attack on the infrastructure in Jänschwalde is an attack on the security and livelihoods of the residents of Brandenburg and beyond. Whoever destroys critical infrastructure endangers jobs, security of supply, trust, and ultimately human health and life.

A spokeswoman for 50Hertz confirmed that internal security reviews are underway across the network and requested that residents report any suspicious individuals observed near high-voltage installations.

History and status of Jänschwalde plant

The Jänschwalde facility was constructed between 1976 and 1989, making it the last newly built coal-fired power station in East Germany before reunification. For decades, the site functioned as the central energy production hub for the former East German power sector and remains the largest coal-fired facility in Brandenburg. Generation capacity has been reduced in recent years, with only two or three of the original six generating blocks currently in active operation. Despite this reduced operating capacity, the station continues to supply a substantial portion of the electricity demand across eastern Germany. Under current German energy phase-out plans, the entire Jänschwalde power generation complex is scheduled for final decommissioning and shutdown in 2028.