Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) announced on Tuesday in Berlin that he would strengthen measures against left‑wing extremism, while at the same time setting aside a one‑million‑euro reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators behind the attack on Berlin’s power grid.
He explained that the security authorities would receive additional personnel so the phenomenon could be scrutinised more closely, and that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution would be similarly reinforced to intensify monitoring and combat of left‑wing extremism. Dobrindt made it clear that this focus would not come at the expense of other anti‑extremism efforts; he described the initiative as an “arming up” against left‑wing extremism.
The interior minister also confirmed that a one‑million‑euro reward had been offered for clues identifying the attackers of the power‑grid assault. A broad information campaign planned across Greater Berlin and Brandenburg is intended to inspire public cooperation.
Overall, the investigative authorities’ powers will be expanded, particularly in digital investigations involving automated data analysis and biometric facial recognition. A corresponding law has already been introduced.
In addition, the Bundestag is expected to pass a critical‑infrastructure protection law this week, which would obligate operators of essential services to conduct risk analyses and establish resilience measures, according to Dobrindt.
