Undefined Explosive Device (UED) event in Brandenburg, Turnow-Preilack Substation area, Germany on Tue 1st September 2026

Local law enforcement officers in Germany have discovered explosive devices at the Turnow-Preilack substation near the Janschwalde coal-fired power station in southern Brandenburg. As a result of the incident, a 500-megawatt unit was taken out of service.

This was reported by the German newspaper MAZ, citing sources within the country’s security services.

According to MAZ’s sources, the emergency services discovered and defused several rocket-launching devices fitted with explosives on the power station’s premises. The newspaper stated that it had a photograph allegedly showing such a device of an unknown, presumably homemade, design.

Law enforcement officials believe that unknown individuals planted explosive devices with the aim of causing a large-scale power cut at a neighbouring coal-fired power station. According to preliminary reports, this did not happen.

The power station’s grid operator, 50Hertz, stated that as a result of the incident, the unknown individuals allegedly managed to damage several lines of the 50Hertz transmission network, leading to a ‘brief interruption in service’. However, the problem has now been resolved and the lines are operational again. The general power supply from Janschwalde was also unaffected.

“We ask everyone across the entire network area to be particularly vigilant. Please report any suspicious individuals or incidents to the police,” the newspaper quoted a 50Hertz spokesperson as saying.

The company also noted that it is cooperating with the relevant German security authorities to clarify the situation.

Eenschwalde is Germany’s fourth-largest power station. It has a capacity of 2,000 megawatts, with one 500-megawatt unit held in reserve. The station supplies electricity to several million households and is also part of the district heating system for the city of Cottbus.