Jan 6, 2026
Berlin's mayor cautions about infrastructure issues following the attack on a power station.
Berlin's mayor stated on Monday that the city's fundamental infrastructure needs enhanced protection, following an arson attack on a power station that left many residents without electricity.
The far-left group Volcano has taken responsibility for the incident, which also disrupted mobile phone services, halted heating during cold weather, stopped trains, and compelled hospitals to rely on backup generators. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt remarked to the Bild newspaper that "left-wing terrorism is resurging in Germany with increasing intensity."
Volcano opposes the energy sector's reliance on fossil fuels and has claimed several attacks in Berlin and the nearby Brandenburg region. Mayor Kai Wegner indicated during a news conference that discussions with the federal government are necessary to improve the protection of critical infrastructure, particularly in the capital area.
In light of rising geopolitical tensions, Germany and other Western nations are on heightened alert for potential sabotage against power, communication, and transportation systems. An incident early Saturday resulted in a blaze that destroyed a cable duct over a canal, leaving approximately 45,000 homes and over 2,000 businesses in the city's southwest, including affluent areas like Zehlendorf and Wannsee, without power.
While electricity has been restored to around 14,500 homes, full restoration is not anticipated until Thursday afternoon, according to Stromnetz Berlin, the city's network operator. In 2024, Volcano claimed responsibility for a suspected arson attack on a power pylon near the Tesla factory outside Berlin.
The domestic intelligence agency, in its latest annual report, indicated that left-wing militancy is an escalating threat and specifically mentioned the Volcano group. Bernhard Büllmann, head of Stromnetz Berlin, noted that restoring power to the still-affected areas would be a complex task involving high-tension lines that require specialized personnel.
The far-left group Volcano has taken responsibility for the incident, which also disrupted mobile phone services, halted heating during cold weather, stopped trains, and compelled hospitals to rely on backup generators. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt remarked to the Bild newspaper that "left-wing terrorism is resurging in Germany with increasing intensity."
Volcano opposes the energy sector's reliance on fossil fuels and has claimed several attacks in Berlin and the nearby Brandenburg region. Mayor Kai Wegner indicated during a news conference that discussions with the federal government are necessary to improve the protection of critical infrastructure, particularly in the capital area.
In light of rising geopolitical tensions, Germany and other Western nations are on heightened alert for potential sabotage against power, communication, and transportation systems. An incident early Saturday resulted in a blaze that destroyed a cable duct over a canal, leaving approximately 45,000 homes and over 2,000 businesses in the city's southwest, including affluent areas like Zehlendorf and Wannsee, without power.
While electricity has been restored to around 14,500 homes, full restoration is not anticipated until Thursday afternoon, according to Stromnetz Berlin, the city's network operator. In 2024, Volcano claimed responsibility for a suspected arson attack on a power pylon near the Tesla factory outside Berlin.
The domestic intelligence agency, in its latest annual report, indicated that left-wing militancy is an escalating threat and specifically mentioned the Volcano group. Bernhard Büllmann, head of Stromnetz Berlin, noted that restoring power to the still-affected areas would be a complex task involving high-tension lines that require specialized personnel.