Power Grid Targeted in Arson Attack in Marzahn

Unknown individuals set fire to old tyres under a cable bridge on Boxberger Straße. Nineteen businesses are without power. The power grid in Berlin has again been targeted in an arson attack, this time perpetrators set tyres ablaze under a cable bridge in Marzahn, leaving 19 businesses without power.

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Berlin’s power supply has been targeted again. In the early hours of Monday morning, several old tyres were set ablaze under a cable bridge on Boxberger Straße in Berlin. A fire department spokesperson said the fire brigade was alerted to a small fire at 4 am. The initial alarm was due to heavy smoke. When the fire brigade arrived, tyres and debris were burning.

According to a spokesperson for Stromnetz Berlin GmbH, the flames damaged several 10-kilovolt medium-voltage cables. Two 110-kV high-voltage cables were also affected. All were shut down as a precaution. “No households are affected, but 19 businesses are,” the spokesperson said. These businesses have been supplied with power from a large emergency generator since 9 am.

Forensic investigators secured evidence at the scene until midday. In the afternoon, the police reported that unknown perpetrators had gone to a bridge on Boxberger Straße around 4 am. “They placed objects under the power cables there. They then set the objects on fire.” Later that day, the State Criminal Police Office took over the investigation.