Three energy substations vandalized in Washington, knocking out energy for 14,000

Three energy substations within the Tacoma, Washington, space had been vandalized Sunday, knocking out energy to round 14,000 clients, police mentioned. 

The primary substation, situated in Spanaway, Washington, and belonging to Tacoma Public Utilities, was attacked round 5:30 a.m. native time, based on the Pierce County Sheriff’s Division. Nothing was stolen, however tools was vandalized, resulting in outages within the space, police mentioned.

A second close by TPU substation was additionally vandalized, police mentioned.

A substation belonging to Puget Sound Power was additionally vandalized someday within the early morning, police mentioned. Energy went round 2:30 a.m. native time. Police had been notified round 11:30 a.m., and after they arrived on the scene, they discovered “the fenced space was damaged into and the tools vandalized,” just like the opposite two substations.

No suspects are in custody and it was not instantly clear if all three substations had been vandalized by the identical individual or folks or if the assaults are associated.

As of 11:30 a.m. native time, Tacoma Public Utilities mentioned that round 2,700 of the 7,300 clients who misplaced energy had been nonetheless at the hours of darkness.

The three incidents come lower than a month after somebody opened fireplace on a substation in North Carolina, knocking out energy to some 45,000 folks. The “deliberate” assault raised considerations in regards to the vulnerability of the U.S. energy grid to sabotage, as many substations are protected by little greater than chainlink fences.

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