Today: Anschläge auf kritische Infrastruktur – Wie verwundbar ist Deutschland?

Two attacks on Germany's critical energy infrastructure within a single day – one in Brandenburg and another in Bergheim near Cologne – have reignited the debate over the safety of vital infrastructure. These incidents fuel questions about any potential connection to the thwarted attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport in August, for which the German government recently blamed Russia.

CDU politician Marc Henrichmann, chairman of the Parliamentary Control Panel overseeing German intelligence services, cautions against jumping to conclusions, stating, "That is surely too early." He adds, with regard to security, it is "utopian" to believe that "the state can protect every single operator of critical infrastructure across Germany 24/7."

Henrichmann calls for more authority for intelligence services, and discusses the current investigative progress, in today's episode of Handelsblatt Today: "Anschläge auf Strominfrastruktur legen Sicherheitslücken offen." Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing has warned of the consequences of political polarization ahead of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt.

"The result could further complicate the political landscape in regions, parties and the federal government," Sewing said at the Handelsblatt banking summit. He alludes to a strong likely vote for the AfD, which could win the absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt. You can hear a clip from this interview with Handelsblatt Chief Editor Sebastian Matthes in today's second "Today – das Interview" with Commerzbank CEO Bettina Orlopp about merger talks with Unicredit.