Archive · 7 Jan 2026
Berlin Faces Longest Postwar Blackout After Arson Attack
A big fire caused by some people set on fire important power lines in Berlin, Germany.
This fire has left around 27,000 homes without electricity for four days.
The cold weather is making it hard to fix the problem quickly.
Experts say this shows how easy it is to attack important things like power lines.
Some people think Russia might be involved, but it's not clear.
A group called the Volcano Group said they did it.
The government is thinking about how to protect these important things better, but they haven't decided yet.
This is the longest time without power in Germany since the end of the war.
Around 27,000 homes in Berlin are without power for a fourth day after an arson attack.
The frozen ground is making repairs more difficult, and people are moving to emergency shelters.
Experts warn that Germany's infrastructure is vulnerable to both sabotage and environmental threats.
Authorities are investigating possible Russian involvement, though no direct link has been found.
A left-wing activist network called Volcano Group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
- Who
- Berlin residents, German authorities, Volcano Group, Russian government (suspected)
- What
- Arson attack causing a major blackout
- When
- Fourth day of outage, January 6, 2026
- Where
- Berlin, Germany
- Why
- Deliberate act of sabotage, possibly linked to left-wing extremists or Russian destabilization efforts
- Affected Homes
- 27,000
- Duration
- Fourth day
- Cause
- Arson attack
- Previous Incident
- September 2024
- Claimed by
- Volcano Group
- Investigation
- Federal prosecutor's office
- Proposed Fund
- €2 billion ($2.3 billion)