Berlin saw a major power outage affecting up to 35,000 homes and 1,900 businesses after an arson attack on a bridge over the Teltow canal early Saturday. The leftwing militant group Vulkangruppe claimed responsibility, targeting wealthy districts to "cut the juice to the ruling class." The fire damaged high-voltage cables near the Lichterfelde heat and power station, possibly leaving some areas in dark and cold until January 8, said grid operator Stromnetz Berlin. In a 2,500-word statement, Vulkangruppe called the attack an "act of self-defence and international solidarity" against fossil fuel greed. They also criticized AI datacenters for increasing harmful energy use, saying, "We are contributing to our own surveillance and it is comprehensive." The group apologized for affecting the poor but showed limited sympathy for rich villa owners now in the dark. Berlin's mayor Kai Wegner condemned the attack, saying, "It is unacceptable that leftwing extremists are once again openly attacking our electricity grid and thereby endangering human lives." Important facilities like hospitals and care homes suffered power loss amid freezing temperatures and snowfall. Police used loudspeakers to alert affected people as mobile networks were down. Stromnetz Berlin reported initial outages in Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Wannsee, and Lichterfelde, with partial restoration by Sunday midday. However, cold weather is slowing repairs, and full power may not return until Thursday afternoon. Experts warn that such attacks are easy to plan with information widely available online, and little preparation exists for sabotage. This is not the first attack by Vulkangruppe. In March 2024, they targeted a Tesla gigafactory causing temporary power loss. Germany’s intelligence agency classifies them as a leftwing extremist group focused on causing damage with significant public impact.