Berlin remains in a state of “major damage” following widespread power outages across southwestern districts, even as electricity has been restored. Interior Senator Iris Spranger of the SPD emphasized that the state of emergency, declared earlier this week, remains in effect and will not be lifted until formally rescinded by her office.
Spranger condemned the perpetrators’ actions as “inhuman” highlighting the particular risk posed to vulnerable populations, especially elderly residents. She stated that investigations have been transferred to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office and that she is in close contact with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz), suggesting a possible national security dimension to the incident.
Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner of the CDU, significantly escalated the narrative surrounding the event, asserting that it constitutes “a terrorist attack by a left-wing extremist organization” dismissing prior characterizations of the event as a minor act of arson. This pronouncement, while intended to convey seriousness, has drawn immediate scrutiny, with critics questioning the premature assignment of motivations and the potential for politicizing the crisis. Concerns are being raised that Wegner’s declaration could be intended to justify harsher law enforcement measures and a broader crackdown on left-wing activism, potentially eclipsing the immediate needs of affected residents. The speed and certainty with which Wegner labeled the event as a “terrorist attack” is also prompting inquiries regarding the basis for his assessment and whether it risks prejudicing the ongoing investigation.
