Arson Attack Cuts Power and Cell Service to Tens of Thousands in Berlin

An arson attack on a cable transom that links one of Berlin’s largest power plants to the grid has left tens of thousands of residents without electricity and cellphone service as the outage entered its third full day, officials said. Authorities said the blaze damaged a cable bridge containing five main power lines and that incendiary devices were planted underneath the cables, according to Franziska Giffey, the city senator in charge of infrastructure.

A far-left pro-environmental group calling itself the Vulkan group posted a 4,163-word letter claiming responsibility, a copy of which was published by Berlin Zeitung; officials said they were taking the claim seriously. Initially the cuts affected about 45,000 homes and 2,200 businesses; by Monday night the city had restored power to some neighborhoods but reported 27,800 homes and 1,450 businesses still without electricity in the southwest.

Temperatures remained below freezing with snow and ice, the S‑bahn commuter train was out of service until Monday, and mobile communications were disrupted. The city opened emergency shelters, hotels offered discounted rooms, and the fire department set up eight emergency call centers where residents can reach police, ambulance or fire services.

City authorities asked the federal prosecutor to take over the case and predicted it would take six days, until Thursday, to re-establish power in all areas.

Key Topics

World, Berlin, Vulkan Group, Franziska Giffey, Power Plant, S-bahn