Berlin Power Grid Attack: Recovery Underway After Major Outage

Berlin's Power Grid Slowly Returns After Left-Wing Extremist Attack

Berlin's power supply is expected to be fully restored by Thursday afternoon, following what authorities are calling one of the city's most severe blackouts since World War II. The crisis began on January 3, 2026, when a fire on a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal near the Lichterfelde power station damaged critical high-voltage cables, initially cutting power to approximately 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses across four affluent southwestern districts.

Extremist Group Claims Responsibility

The left-wing extremist group Vulkangruppe (The Volcano Group) has claimed responsibility for the arson attack, which they described as targeting 'the ruling class's energy hunger' that contributes to climate change. Berlin's interior affairs minister condemned the act as 'left-wing terrorism that endangers lives during freezing temperatures'.

As of January 7, around 19,900 households and 850 businesses remain without power, though critical infrastructure including five hospitals has been reconnected. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner declared a state of emergency, which helped accelerate repair efforts that were initially expected to take until Thursday.

Winter Crisis Deepens Impact

The timing couldn't be worse - Germany is experiencing a severe cold snap with temperatures barely rising above freezing during the day and dropping to -7°C (-19°F) at night. 'This is in fact the longest power outage in Berlin since World War II,' says Berlin correspondent Charlotte Waaijers. 'The surprise about how easy it apparently is to shut down such a large part of the city for so long is great.'

The Berlin fire department has asked residents to turn off all private emergency generators before 10:30 AM and unplug electrical devices to facilitate the grid restart. Once power returns, they recommend gradually turning appliances back on and conserving electricity as the network remains fragile.

Economic Toll Mounts

The economic impact is substantial. The Berlin Chamber of Commerce warns of hundreds of thousands in losses from spoiled inventory and lost revenue. The Goerzwerk creative complex in Lichterfelde is spending €15,000-€20,000 weekly on diesel generators that provide only minimal power. Supermarkets like Edeka and Aldi have deployed backup power while providing aid to residents.

Schools and daycare centers have closed, forcing parents to stay home. Many businesses are collaborating to share resources and document damages for potential compensation claims.

Communication Challenges and Community Response

Residents have expressed frustration with communication from Berlin's administration. Although dozens of warming centers, charging stations, shower facilities, and food distribution points are available, 'not everyone finds them easy to locate,' notes Waaijers. Much assistance is being provided by volunteers.

The repair process has been slow because the damage involves very thick high-voltage cables that can only be repaired at temperatures above freezing. 'Not everyone has understanding for this,' adds Waaijers. 'The dissatisfaction with the already partly chaotic city administration in Berlin runs deep.'

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the attack, treating it as a serious security matter requiring federal-level scrutiny. This follows a pattern of infrastructure attacks by the Vulkangruppe dating back to 2011, including previous attacks on Tesla's Gigafactory and other power facilities.

As Berlin slowly recovers, the incident raises serious questions about critical infrastructure security in Germany's capital and highlights vulnerabilities in urban energy systems during extreme weather events.