A politically motivated fire, attributed by city authorities to 'left-wing extremists,' damaged high-voltage power lines in south-west Berlin, causing a major power outage for tens of thousands of households and businesses, with some areas expected to remain without electricity until Thursday.
A significant power outage struck south-west Berlin after a fire broke out Saturday morning on a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal, near the Lichterfelde power plant. Initially impacting over 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses across four districts, the incident also disrupted heating and internet services. City authorities, including Mayor Kai Wegner and Senator Franziska Giffey, have labeled the event a 'particularly severe power outage' and a politically motivated attack by 'left-wing extremists,' endangering human lives. While some power has been restored, many affected areas, including critical facilities, face prolonged blackouts until Thursday, exacerbated by snowy weather and freezing temperatures hindering restoration efforts. The incident is being investigated as arson and is compared to a similar power outage last September; authorities are currently verifying a letter claiming responsibility for the latest attack.
