Berlin residents faced their worst nightmare when extremists launched a coordinated attack on the city’s power infrastructure during brutal winter conditions. The assault plunged tens of thousands into complete darkness while temperatures dropped dangerously below freezing across multiple districts. Emergency services scrambled desperately to respond as critical systems failed throughout the capital. This brazen attack has exposed serious vulnerabilities in Germany’s energy security.
Arson attack on power grid wreaks havoc on Berlin infrastructure
There were also instances of fire breaking out in areas where there are cable ducts crossing over the Teltow Canal during the early hours of Saturday morning. The fire assault particularly targeted areas where the infrastructure in Berlin is most at risk. The assault led to damage to high-voltage cables in areas where there is the Berlin Lichterfelde Power Plant. The assault immediately led to an energy blackout in approximately 45,000 households and 2,200 business entities in Berlin’s four richest districts: Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Wannsee, and Lichterfelde.
This has led to a power outage and a loss of heating in the area, with temperatures plummeting to a low of -10 degrees Celsius. The telecommunication network was affected, the overground trains ceased running, while the backup generators were turned on at five major hospitals. These have contributed to a chaotic situation in the south-west of Berlin as the relevant services struggle with the situation.
The Vulkangruppe extremists are responsible for infrastructure terrorism
The extremist group, which was termed as “far left,” Vulkangruppe, proudly accepted responsibility for the attack in an official letter that was addressed directly to the police. “We successfully sabotaged the gas-fired power station in Berlin-Lichterfelde,” the group stated in their letter, because it targeted “the most affluent quarters of the city.” The group’s manifesto indicated that it was taking a stand against gas expansion in Germany in general and in Europe as well.
“We successfully sabotaged the gas-fired power station in Berlin-Lichterfelde,” the Vulkangruppe declared in their letter to police, apologizing to less wealthy residents while claiming their action was “a necessary measure against the expansion of fossil fuel-fired power plants” in Germany.
The mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, strongly criticized the attack: “This is not a case of a minor arson attack, sabotage, but a terrorist attack by a left-wing extremist organization.” The German federal prosecutors launched extensive investigations into suspected crimes of membership in a terrorist organization, anti-constitutional sabotage, and aggravated arson. The Vulkangruppe has been carrying out such attacks on the country’s infrastructural facilities since 2011. They also carried out a massive attack on Tesla’s Gigafactory near Berlin.
Historic blackout sparks unprecedented conditions of human suffering
Sadly, an 83-year-old woman lost her life during this blackout, according to Deputy Police Chief Marco Langner. The details of this death are also currently being investigated at this point. The emergency medical services were unable to save this woman’s life when her family called for immediate ambulance services at this point of need. The police also indicated that there were instances of burglary during this blackout due to a lack of security during this period.
“My coldest room was 4 degrees celsius and my warmest was 8 degrees celsius… I was afraid of my pipes freezing,” said Berlin resident Thomas Dastig, describing the harsh conditions residents endured during the extended outage.
The blackout has become the worst incident in post-war Berlin’s history, having lasted for more than four days. About 100,000 Berliners were left without electricity. The impact of the blackout on Berlin’s business community was disastrous, leading to them closing down their businesses for an extended period of time and destroying a lot of fresh goods. Power supply was restored to Berlin on Wednesday morning, but without using any electrical appliances.
