Nearly two months after the devastating arson attack on Berlin’s power grid, German authorities still lack clear evidence. The Interior Ministry’s replies to a parliamentary question from the Greens, reported by the Rheinische Post, confirm this uncertainty. In the government’s response, investigators said that, regardless of the initial suspicion of a terrorist organization, other potential perpetrators are also being examined and that the investigation will remain open‑ended.
An alleged confession letter initially blamed the crime on a left‑wing extremist “volcano group”. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had quickly identified a left‑wing extremist attack as the motive. Greens parliamentary manager Irene Mihalic criticised Dobrindt for making a premature assessment about the alleged masterminds, warning that “given the still very thin state of knowledge, it would be wise not to rush to such conclusions again”.
Greens politician Konstantin von Notz, chair of the parliamentary control committee overseeing intelligence services, also voiced concern. He said it is “shocking how little the federal government still knows about the background of the attack on Berlin’s power supply at the beginning of the year”. Von Notz called for addressing past shortcomings and developing a coherent understanding of who or what the supposed “volcano groups” are, who supports them, what unites them or distinguishes them, and whether other structures or networks might be responsible for these acts.
