Imagine waking up in freezing temperatures, your home plunged into darkness, and essential services like hospitals struggling to function. This was the reality for tens of thousands of Berlin residents recently, following a suspected arson attack that cut off the city's power supply.
A far-left activist group, known as the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group), has claimed responsibility for the incident. Their target? Not the people, they say, but the fossil fuel economy itself. They stated that the action was an act of 'self-defense' and solidarity with those who protect the earth.
Early on a Saturday morning, several cables near a power plant in southwest Berlin were found ablaze. While the fire was quickly extinguished, the damage was done: approximately 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses were left without electricity. The state economy minister confirmed that incendiary devices were used in the attack.
But here's where it gets controversial: Berlin's mayor condemned the attack, accusing 'suspected left-wing extremists' of knowingly endangering lives, especially those of patients in hospitals. Hospitals and care facilities scrambled to deploy emergency power generators, and some patients were even transferred to facilities with available capacity. Some hospitals had their electricity restored by Sunday.
As of Sunday afternoon, around 10,000 households and 300 businesses had regained power, but many were still waiting. Schools, initially scheduled to reopen after the Christmas holidays, were forced to remain closed. The city's electricity operator estimates that it will take until Thursday to fully restore power to all customers.
The Vulkangruppe, in its statement, expressed apologies to less affluent residents affected by the power cuts, but showed less sympathy for 'the many owners of villas.' The police told AFP news agency they believed the statement was 'plausible' while they continued their investigation, with other media reporting police thought it was credible.
And this is the part most people miss: The Vulkangruppe has a history of such actions. They previously claimed responsibility for a suspected arson attack that halted production at Tesla's Berlin car factory in 2024.
What do you think? Do you agree with the group's motives, or do you condemn their actions, regardless of their cause? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
