SAEDNEWS: A suspected arson attack has caused a widespread power cut in Berlin since Saturday.
Authorities said on Sunday that the power outage affecting parts of southwest Berlin was the result of a politically motivated attack by left-wing extremists.
Around 45,000 households were left without electricity after high-voltage power lines were damaged by a fire. The incident, which occurred on Saturday morning, has been described by authorities as a politically motivated attack by far-left extremists, Euronews reported.
The fire broke out on a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal near the Lichterfelde power plant, according to local authorities. The damage affected around 2,200 businesses and approximately 45,000 households across four districts, cutting off access to electricity, internet and heating.
Although power has since been restored in some areas, thousands of residents remain without electricity. Authorities estimate that around 35,000 households may remain without power until Thursday, as snowy weather and freezing temperatures have slowed down repair work.
While the police investigation continues, emergency services have set up support for affected residents. An emergency shelter has been opened, and a district care centre is operating at a sports centre on Hüttenweg in the Zehlendorf district, a fire brigade spokesperson said.
Authorities are also examining the authenticity of a letter claiming responsibility for the attack. The letter, obtained by German broadcaster rbb, was reportedly written by an anarchist group calling itself the “Volcano Group,” which claims responsibility for the fire.
The letter allegedly contains details of how the fire was carried out, but its authenticity has not yet been confirmed, Berlin police said on Saturday evening.
Security authorities have been aware of the “Volcano Group” for several years. According to Germany’s domestic intelligence services, the group was founded in 2011 and has been investigated on multiple occasions, including in 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2024.
Security expert Felix Neumann from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation told Stern magazine that the group belongs to the left-wing extremist spectrum. Analyses of previous statements by the group indicate it is anarchist in nature and mainly focuses on issues related to climate change and the climate crisis.
The number of people involved in the group remains unclear. There is no reliable information on its membership or internal structure, Neumann said. So far, its activities have largely been limited to Berlin and Brandenburg, with previous targets including cable ducts, radio installations and electricity pylons.
This is not the first time that parts of Berlin have experienced large-scale power outages following arson attacks. In September last year, an attack on an electricity pylon in the Treptow-Köpenick district left around 50,000 households and businesses without power. Full service was restored after approximately 60 hours.
Authorities say the impact of the current outage is more severe. Around 2,000 households in Lichterfelde regained electricity on Sunday night, but residents in Nikolassee, Zehlendorf and Wannsee are expected to remain without power until Thursday.
