(de-news.net) – Iris Spranger (SPD), Berlin’s interior senator, has urged the Federal Prosecutor General to examine whether responsibility for the investigation should be transferred to the federal level following the attack on the electrical grid in the southwest of the city. In her assessment, the incident exceeded the threshold of conventional left-wing extremism, as the perpetrators had knowingly and deliberately accepted the possibility that people could be harmed. This conscious acceptance of risk, she argued, elevated the case into the realm of potential left-wing terrorism. Spranger stressed that such conduct represents a fundamental breach of societal norms and democratic coexistence and therefore could not be tolerated. As of Saturday, approximately 30,500 households and businesses remained without power, a figure that, while lower than the initial estimate of around 45,000, continued to underscore the severity of the disruption.
Franziska Giffey (SPD), Berlin’s economy senator, similarly called for federal involvement to support the ongoing investigation. She emphasized the importance of clarifying whether the attack was carried out solely by ideologically motivated activist groups or whether it pointed to more complex and possibly coordinated structures. Drawing on the content of the perpetrators’ claim of responsibility, which she described as containing extremely dangerous views, Giffey argued that the incident constituted not only an assault on critical infrastructure but also a direct challenge to the foundations of a free and open society. She highlighted that the economic repercussions for the city were substantial and could not be justified under any circumstances. Referring to a resilience strategy adopted after a major blackout in September, she noted that the measures outlined in that plan were now being implemented and were proving effective in practice. Alongside ongoing repair work, additional emergency generators were being deployed with the aim of stabilizing the situation by Thursday.
At the federal level, Konstantin von Notz, deputy parliamentary leader of the Green Party and vice chair of the Parliamentary Oversight Panel, also argued that the case should fall under the authority of the Federal Prosecutor General. He described the consequences of the sabotage to Berlin’s power supply as catastrophic and maintained that the attack had intentionally put life and health at risk. Von Notz pointed to a broader pattern of similar assaults on electricity networks and transportation infrastructure in recent years, not only in Berlin but also in Bavaria and other regions. In several instances, statements claiming responsibility had indicated a left-wing extremist background, yet tangible investigative successes had remained absent. Given both the scale and the persistence of these attacks, he concluded that intensified involvement by the Federal Prosecutor General was warranted and that all security agencies should pursue potential leads with heightened focus and determination.
Berlin’s governing mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), classified the attack on the southern power supply as terrorism rather than a mere act of sabotage or arson. He stated that the assault on infrastructure had placed human lives in danger and announced a resolute response by the authorities. According to Wegner, the police, the state criminal investigation office, and the domestic intelligence service must intensify their efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by a group calling itself the ‘Vulkangruppe.’
In response to the incident, the city declared a large-scale emergency, a step intended to simplify access to federal assistance, including the possible deployment of military support. The arson attack on a cable bridge damaged critical transmission lines, leading to power outages in districts such as Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Wannsee, and Lichterfelde. The grid operator reported that electricity had been restored to around 14,000 households and approximately 500 commercial customers, including several major hospitals. Nevertheless, remaining customers could continue to experience disruptions through Thursday. Emergency shelters were established, and in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district, 19 schools were closed until at least Wednesday, reflecting the continuing impact of the outage on daily life and public services.
