Climate activist Daniel V. arrested for planned sabotage of power grids

German authorities have arrested 48-year-old climate activist Daniel V. near the Dutch border following a manhunt. The suspect was apprehended near a power plant in Aachen with explosives in his possession.

Investigations by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Interior reveal that V. had planned more than 150 sabotage actions targeting energy infrastructure. He is suspected of attempting to sabotage power lines near coal-fired power plants in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, and Saxony. In at least two instances, he successfully caused short circuits at facilities in Bergheim and near the Jänschwalde power plant, though these did not result in widespread power outages.

Authorities recovered over forty ignition mechanisms in North Rhine-Westphalia, which were designed to fire homemade rockets at high-voltage lines to cause short circuits and subsequent blackouts. The suspect's planned targets reportedly extended into neighboring countries, with reports indicating an electricity substation in Doetinchem, Netherlands, was among his intended targets. V. stated his motives were rooted in the fight against fossil fuels, describing fossil fuel production as a crime that causes “unspeakable suffering.”