Terrorist attack on Berlin's power grid: Danger for the entire region!

Terrorist attack on Berlin's power grid: Danger for the entire region!

Recently, a serious incident in Berlin reignited concerns about the security of Germany's critical infrastructure. On January 3, 2026, there was a massive power outage that affected more than 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses. As a result, many people, including residents of nursing homes and hospitals, were without power for days. The left-wing extremist “Vulcan Group” claimed responsibility for this attack, which caused a fire on five high-voltage cables. Conditions were so tense that the police declared a state of emergency in Berlin and schools and supermarkets in the affected areas remained closed. These incidents raise serious questions about the security situation of critical infrastructure throughout Germany and call for quick action from politicians.

Harald Jahnke, managing director of Stadtwerke Prenzlau, is concerned about the incidents in the capital. He demands that the state react quickly and strengthen the security of the power grid. Jahnke emphasizes that the public utilities in Prenzlau have invested significantly in the security of their infrastructure in recent years. For the past two years, the public utility company's premises have only been made accessible after prior registration, and photography on the site is also prohibited. These measures are intended to prevent the security of essential supply technology from being jeopardized, as nordkurier.de reports.

Security investments in Prenzlau

The municipal utilities attach great importance to a close-meshed power network, the stability of which is guaranteed by ring connections and cross connections. Another advantage is that repairs in the low-voltage network often only take a few hours, while in the medium-voltage network they take an average of half a working day. If, despite all measures, there is a longer power outage, stationary and mobile emergency power generators are available that offer a maximum output of 80 to 110 kW. However, according to Jahnke, there can occasionally be difficulties in troubleshooting if faults only become apparent after a delay. In order to overcome these challenges, municipal utilities can rent special cable measuring vehicles.

In the last five years, the city has increased its investments in cabling and infrastructure to around one million euros. Only 50 kilometers of the 175-kilometer-long medium-voltage network are currently above ground, while only five kilometers of the over 200-kilometer-long low-voltage network are above ground. This continuous modernization and long-term investment planning are part of the strategy to sustainably protect the infrastructure against disruptions.

Legislation and resistance

The incidents in Berlin have also reignited the discussion about the KRITIS umbrella law, which aims to improve the protection of critical infrastructure. Political voices and the BDEW are calling for a reassessment of transparency obligations in order to minimize security risks. However, the bill, which has been on the table since September 2024, is not yet in force. There are now massive calls for quick measures to increase security in sensitive areas such as energy, water and IT.

The debate about security gaps and the need for action is further fueled by the increasing threats from extremism and cyberattacks. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution sees these dangers as serious risks. The latest example from Berlin shows once again how vulnerable even modern infrastructures are.

And while politicians are still thinking about it, we citizens can make our own contribution: personal responsibility, for example by stockpiling supplies, is required in crisis situations. Because the next urban challenges are just around the corner, and the question is whether we are well prepared.

The future of electricity supply in Brandenburg and all of Germany depends on our willingness to take security issues seriously and on the ability of politicians to act quickly and effectively - a challenge that no one should underestimate.