Berlin power outage: Fire on cable bridge knocks out electricity to 45,000 homes; mayor calls it 'politically motivated attack'

Thousands were left without power in south-west Berlin after a fire damaged high-voltage power lines on Saturday morning. The incident, occurring near the Lichterfelde power plant, initially affected over 45,000 homes and 2,200 businesses, with some areas expected to remain without electricity until Thursday, according to statement released Sunday by authorities, as reported by Associated Press.The fire originated at a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal, affecting electricity, heating, and internet networks in four districts. The critical infrastructure of hospitals and nursing homes was most adversely affected by these disruptions."It is a particularly severe power outage affecting tens of thousands of households and businesses, including care facilities, hospitals, numerous social institutions and companies," said Franziska Giffey, Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs.While power was restored to many affected areas by Sunday, their efforts were hampered by snowy conditions and freezing temperatures, making the situation more challenging for those still without electricity.Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner labelled "left-wing extremists" as the culprits. "It is unacceptable that once again clearly left-wing extremists have attacked our power grid and thereby endangered human lives," he said.The incident bears similarities to a previous power outage in southeast Berlin last September, where radical activists claimed responsibility. Authorities are currently investigating the authenticity of a letter claiming responsibility for this latest attack.The ongoing investigation is treating the incident as a possible case of arson, with local authorities working to restore services while dealing with harsh winter conditions that have complicated repair efforts.