Reutlingen substation fire suspected arson causes massive power outage
A fire broke out at the Reutlingen‑West electrical substation on the night of 8‑9 June 2026. The blaze knocked out the substation and a nearby facility, leaving tens of thousands of residents without electricity – estimates range from 20 000 customers to roughly 40 000 people. Critical services, including a hospital, were affected and damage is assessed at several million euros.
Investigators from the Baden‑Württemberg state criminal office (LKA), the state security service and the anti‑terrorism centre have secured a possible accelerant and are treating the incident as a suspected arson. No suspect or motive has been identified; authorities are considering links to extremist sabotage, citing similar attacks on Berlin’s power infrastructure in 2025‑26. A police deployment of about one hundred officers was sent to the site, and assistance from the German Red Cross and Malteser Relief is ongoing. Restoration work has partially resumed, with many households and public buildings back on the grid, but full service may take up to 48 hours.
The investigation remains open, with officials urging witnesses to report any suspicious activity observed around the substation during the incident.