An arson attack attributed to the left-wing extremist group Vulkangruppe has caused a major power outage in Berlin, leaving tens of thousands without electricity during freezing winter conditions. The incident, which occurred early Saturday morning in the city’s southwest, damaged high-voltage cables near the Lichterfelde heat and power station, marking one of the most significant blackouts in the capital in recent years.
Stromnetz Berlin, the city’s electricity network operator, reported that the outage initially affected around 45,000 households and over 2,000 businesses across four southern districts. With temperatures dropping below freezing, many residents also lost access to heating and hot water. By Monday, power had been restored to some areas, but approximately 30,000 households remained without electricity as crews worked to repair underground cables in frozen ground. Full restoration is not anticipated until Thursday.
In an online statement deemed credible by authorities, the Vulkangruppe claimed responsibility, stating they intentionally targeted wealthier neighborhoods to disrupt the “ruling class.” The group positioned the attack as a protest against fossil fuel dependency and the increasing energy demands from AI data centers, which they argue exacerbate climate change and enable mass surveillance. While expressing regret for impacting lower-income residents, the statement showed no remorse for affecting affluent homeowners.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner denounced the act as “absolutely unacceptable” terrorism that endangers lives and burdens emergency services. In a Monday interview with public broadcaster RBB, he described the perpetrators as “professional criminals” from a left-wing extremist group, emphasizing risks to vulnerable populations like the elderly reliant on medical devices and families with young children. He urged swift apprehension of those responsible.
Security assessments indicate this fits a pattern of sabotage by groups associated with the Vulkangruppe name since around 2011. Previous actions include arson on rail and power lines disrupting commuter services, a 2018 blackout affecting thousands, and attacks on digital infrastructure.
In March 2024, the group claimed an arson on a pylon supplying Tesla’s Berlin-Brandenburg Gigafactory, halting production. Another unclaimed but attributed arson in September caused a 60-hour outage for tens of thousands, the longest since World War II. Experts note that such attacks require minimal expertise but can yield severe consequences, highlighting the damage crazed left-wing terrorist groups can cause.
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