BERLIN: Power was fully restored on Wednesday to tens of thousands of homes in Berlin and businesses hit by a blackout lasting five days. The German metropolis plunged into darkness on Saturday after an arson attack claimed by left-wing extremists.

Some 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses suffered after high-voltage cables were set alight, raising questions about Germany’s resilience to sabotage of its critical infrastructure.

All had been reconnected to the grid early on Wednesday afternoon.

The attack was claimed online by an extremist group calling itself the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group).

The case comes at a time when Germany, a strong backer of Ukraine, has accused Russia of a spate of “hybrid attacks”, from drone overflights and espionage to online disinformation.

However, an interior ministry spokeswoman said there were no signs that Russia was involved.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has “stated very clearly that this arson attack qualifies as an act of left-wing terrorism”, the spokeswoman said.

“We consider the claim of responsibility to be authentic,” she added, dismissing reports that the text read more clearly when back-translated into Russian.

The Vulkangruppe has claimed responsibility for 12 attacks since 2011, including an act of sabotage targeting the Tesla factory near Berlin in March 2024, when power lines were set on fire.

German federal prosecutors on Tuesday launched a terrorism investigation into the most recent attack.

An 83-year-old woman who lived in the area died during the blackout.

The woman was found alive in her flat by a relative who had been caring for her, but she died after being picked up in an ambulance.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2026