Early Tuesday morning, two high-voltage pylons in the city’s southeast were set on fire. Over 50,000 households and countless businesses went dark. This was not an accident. The flames were deliberate, fueled to hit the city’s energy backbone and timed to cause maximum chaos.
Hours later, a letter appeared on Indymedia from self-proclaimed anarchists. They said their target was the Adlershof science park, where Humboldt University and dozens of tech, biotech, aerospace, and defense firms operate. They named the military-industrial complex and asked Berliners for forgiveness. Forgiveness will not fix this. The city needs answers.
“The action was aimed at disrupting the military-industrial complex… We ask affected residents for forgiveness.” http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/tens-of-thousands-of-berliners-still-without-power-after-arson-attack/ar-AA1MclK6
The effects hit immediately. Trams stopped. Traffic lights failed. Mobile networks went offline. Emergency lines could not be reached. Schools, kindergartens, pharmacies, and nursing homes were paralyzed. Patients had to be moved. Refrigerated food spoiled. Businesses closed. Stromnetz Berlin called this outage “the absolute exception,” showing that the attack was political, not technical.
“Power cables on two tall electricity pylons were damaged and partially destroyed by the fire… the perpetrators used an accelerant.” http://www.msn.com/en-gb/public-safety-and-emergencies/health-and-safety-alerts/43-000-households-without-power-in-berlin-as-police-suspect-arson/ar-AA1MaWYm
Police are still checking the letter. They are investigating links to Tesla’s planned development center in Treptow-Köpenick, the same area affected by the blackout. A 2024 attack on Tesla halted production for days. This time the target was the grid, which makes the city’s energy system politically exposed.
“Police are investigating whether the attack was linked to Tesla’s announcement… Parallels to past attacks by far-left groups are being considered.” http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-09-09/suspected-arson-attack-in-berlin-leaves-50-000-homes-without-power
Interior Minister Iris Spranger sent loudspeaker vehicles into neighborhoods to keep people informed and calm. By Tuesday afternoon, 15,000 households had power restored. Others may wait until Wednesday. The question is not just when the lights come back. It is whether Berlin can stop the next strike or if this was only the first attack against its technology and industry.
“We are preparing ourselves for the fact that we might not finish today.” http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/tens-of-thousands-of-berliners-still-without-power-after-arson-attack/ar-AA1MclK6
This was not vandalism. It was a direct attack on infrastructure. When pylons burn and science parks go dark, Berlin loses more than power. It loses the confidence that its systems are safe.