Suspected Arson Triggers Major Power Cut Across Parts of Berlin

A large power outage left around 45,000 households in Berlin without electricity after authorities said a suspected arson attack damaged critical infrastructure, disrupting daily life across several neighborhoods.

The blackout began abruptly, cutting power to homes, businesses and public facilities. Traffic lights failed in affected areas, causing congestion, while shops and offices were forced to close or switch to emergency systems. Emergency services reported a surge in calls from residents concerned about the sudden loss of electricity.

Utility operators said preliminary findings point to deliberate damage at an electrical facility, prompting police to open a criminal investigation. Fire crews were dispatched to the site after signs of fire were discovered, and investigators are now working to determine how the blaze started and who may be responsible.

Officials stressed that there was no immediate threat to public safety beyond the outage itself, but described the incident as serious given the scale of disruption. Security around energy infrastructure was increased as a precaution while repairs were underway.

Power was gradually restored over several hours as engineers rerouted electricity and repaired damaged components. By evening, most affected households had electricity again, though some areas experienced intermittent service as systems stabilized.

City leaders condemned the apparent attack, warning that targeting infrastructure can have wide-reaching consequences for public safety and economic activity. They urged anyone with information to come forward and said the investigation would be pursued vigorously.

The incident has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in major cities and the need for enhanced protection. Authorities said lessons from the outage would be reviewed to help prevent similar disruptions in the future.

As Berlin returns to normal, residents are left grappling with questions about who was behind the suspected arson and why such a vital service was targeted.

Author: M.J