A suspected arson attack on critical power infrastructure in Berlin left tens of thousands of residents without electricity and heating over the weekend, according to German authorities investigating what they described as a politically motivated act by left-wing extremists.
The outage began early Saturday after a fire damaged multiple high-voltage power lines near the Lichterfelde power plant in southwestern Berlin, according to EuroNews. Officials said the attack targeted a cable bridge crossing the Teltow Canal, knocking out electricity to approximately 45,000 households and more than 2,000 businesses across four districts.
German police said responsibility for the attack was claimed in a letter attributed to a radical far-left group calling itself “Vulkan,” also referred to in German media as the “Volcano Group.” Authorities said they are working to confirm the authenticity of the claim.
In the manifesto, the group described the arson as an “act of self-defense” and said it was carried out in opposition to fossil fuels and the expansion of artificial intelligence. The text reportedly included details about how the fire was set, though police cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing. The Guardian, which obtained the 2,500-word pamphlet from the group, reported that group aimed to "cut the juice to the ruling class."
According to officials, incendiary devices were placed beneath the power cables on the bridge, causing a sustained, high-temperature fire. After the cables were damaged, metal rods were allegedly used to short-circuit the lines, significantly worsening the destruction. Five high-voltage and ten medium-voltage cables were affected.
The timing of the attack made the impact especially bad. Temperatures were below freezing, leaving residents without heat, electricity, internet access, or mobile service. Emergency services were also disrupted in some areas.
Emergency shelters were opened for residents still without power. A district care point was established at a sports center in the Zehlendorf neighborhood, according to a spokesperson for the Berlin fire brigade.
By Sunday morning, electricity had been restored to some areas, but officials said up to 35,000 households could remain without power until Thursday due to weather conditions and the complexity of the repairs. Tech personnel said the damaged infrastructure includes different types of cables that must be reconnected under specialized conditions by highly qualified crews.
German security services said the Volcano Group has been known to domestic intelligence for more than a decade. The group was founded in 2011 and has been investigated a number of times in connection with sabotage attacks in Berlin and Brandenburg. Past targets have included electricity pylons, cable ducts, and radio installations.
“This group belongs to the left-wing extremist spectrum,” security expert Felix Neumann of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation told Stern magazine.
The outage began early Saturday after a fire damaged multiple high-voltage power lines near the Lichterfelde power plant in southwestern Berlin, according to EuroNews. Officials said the attack targeted a cable bridge crossing the Teltow Canal, knocking out electricity to approximately 45,000 households and more than 2,000 businesses across four districts.
German police said responsibility for the attack was claimed in a letter attributed to a radical far-left group calling itself “Vulkan,” also referred to in German media as the “Volcano Group.” Authorities said they are working to confirm the authenticity of the claim.
In the manifesto, the group described the arson as an “act of self-defense” and said it was carried out in opposition to fossil fuels and the expansion of artificial intelligence. The text reportedly included details about how the fire was set, though police cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing. The Guardian, which obtained the 2,500-word pamphlet from the group, reported that group aimed to "cut the juice to the ruling class."
According to officials, incendiary devices were placed beneath the power cables on the bridge, causing a sustained, high-temperature fire. After the cables were damaged, metal rods were allegedly used to short-circuit the lines, significantly worsening the destruction. Five high-voltage and ten medium-voltage cables were affected.
The timing of the attack made the impact especially bad. Temperatures were below freezing, leaving residents without heat, electricity, internet access, or mobile service. Emergency services were also disrupted in some areas.
Emergency shelters were opened for residents still without power. A district care point was established at a sports center in the Zehlendorf neighborhood, according to a spokesperson for the Berlin fire brigade.
By Sunday morning, electricity had been restored to some areas, but officials said up to 35,000 households could remain without power until Thursday due to weather conditions and the complexity of the repairs. Tech personnel said the damaged infrastructure includes different types of cables that must be reconnected under specialized conditions by highly qualified crews.
German security services said the Volcano Group has been known to domestic intelligence for more than a decade. The group was founded in 2011 and has been investigated a number of times in connection with sabotage attacks in Berlin and Brandenburg. Past targets have included electricity pylons, cable ducts, and radio installations.
“This group belongs to the left-wing extremist spectrum,” security expert Felix Neumann of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation told Stern magazine.
