(de-news.net) Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at addressing the growing threats posed by radical climate activism and left-wing extremism, following a recent arson attack on Berlin’s power grid. According to available reports, the strategy involves a significant reinforcement of intelligence services through both an increase in personnel and the expansion of digital monitoring capabilities. These enhancements are designed to enable authorities to more effectively trace online activity, map extremist networks, and detect early indicators of radicalization.
In addition to intelligence improvements, legal measures are intended to strengthen protections for critical infrastructure, including electricity providers, airports, and other major public and private institutions that are potentially vulnerable to acts of sabotage or terrorist activity. The arson incident, claimed by a left-wing extremist organization, temporarily disrupted electricity supply to over 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses in southwestern Berlin, highlighting both the practical consequences of such attacks and the broader security challenges faced by urban centers.
In response to these events and the broader risks to essential services, the Interior Ministry has formulated a two-pronged plan. The first component emphasizes regulatory oversight through the so-called KRITIS framework, requiring operators of key infrastructure to implement enhanced security protocols, develop detailed emergency plans, and ensure that sensitive operational data are rigorously safeguarded against potential exploitation by extremists. The second component centers on reinforcing intelligence operations, including expanding staffing levels and providing authorities with advanced digital surveillance powers to improve situational awareness and expedite the tracking of extremist activity online.
Dobrindt stressed that maintaining the security and continuity of essential services remains a top priority. He also indicated that the ministry’s measures are intended not only to mitigate immediate vulnerabilities but also to prevent radical actors from exploiting systemic weaknesses in critical national infrastructure.
