A devastating arson attack on Berlin's power infrastructure has left tens of thousands of residents without electricity in freezing temperatures, with German authorities confirming Sunday that left-wing extremists were responsible for the politically motivated sabotage that officials are calling one of the most serious attacks on critical infrastructure in recent memory.
The fire broke out Saturday morning on a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal near the Lichterfelde power plant, cutting power to over 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses across four districts in southwest Berlin. The German activist network known as the Volcano Group has claimed responsibility for the attack, with German antiterrorism authorities studying a note they consider to be of credible authenticity.
Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the attack in the strongest terms, stating: "It is unacceptable that once again, clearly left-wing extremists have attacked our power grid and thereby endangered human lives." The severity of the outage prompted authorities to establish emergency shelters, with the German Red Cross setting up a heated facility at the Cole Sports Center in southwest Berlin.
Security expert Felix Neumann from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation confirmed that "The group belongs to the left-wing extremist spectrum." According to analysis by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Volcano Group is anarchist in nature and primarily focused on issues related to climate change and environmental activism. The group has previously targeted cable ducts, radio installations, and electricity pylons in Berlin and Brandenburg.
The timing of the attack has compounded the crisis, with snowy weather and freezing temperatures significantly slowing restoration efforts. While approximately 2,000 households in the Lichterfelde district regained power Sunday night, many residents in Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, and Wannsee may have to wait until Thursday for full restoration of electricity service.
The economic impact has been substantial. Alexander Schirp, chief executive of the Berlin and Brandenburg Business Association, warned: "We anticipate millions in damages to equipment and machinery and high losses in revenue." Beyond electricity, heating and internet services have also been affected, leaving vulnerable populations at risk during the cold weather.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the security of Germany's critical infrastructure and the growing threat posed by extremist groups willing to target essential services. German authorities have increased surveillance of potential targets and are working with international partners to prevent similar attacks in the future.
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