Power is being restored to the last homes in Berlin after a five-day blackout, caused by a suspected arson attack, affected tens of thousands of properties in the southwest of the city as temperatures dipped below freezing. The outage, reportedly the longest in the capital's post-war history, has reignited a debate about Germany's vulnerability to sabotage attacks.

Schools, hospitals, and care homes were among the properties affected in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district. A far-left militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. On Mexikoplatz, in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, police used a tannoy from a van to announce the imminent return of power, as residents sought information from emergency service workers.

The incident has raised concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in Germany, a nation heavily reliant on a complex network of energy and communication systems. Similar concerns have been voiced in other industrialized nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, regarding the potential for both domestic and foreign actors to disrupt essential services through physical or cyber attacks. The vulnerability of infrastructure has become a key security consideration for governments worldwide, particularly in the face of rising geopolitical tensions and the increasing sophistication of cyber warfare capabilities.

Lena, a resident of the affected area, told the BBC that her family felt "lost" during the blackout, relying on a battery-powered radio for updates and using a camping stove for cooking. The prolonged outage highlighted the challenges faced by urban populations when essential services are disrupted, echoing experiences in other major cities during natural disasters or civil unrest.

Germany, as a major economic power and a key member of the European Union, has been actively working to enhance its cybersecurity defenses and protect its critical infrastructure. The government has invested in upgrading its energy grid and strengthening its emergency response capabilities. However, this incident underscores the ongoing need for vigilance and proactive measures to mitigate potential threats.

The blackout in Berlin serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of infrastructure attacks and the importance of robust security measures. As power is restored, authorities are investigating the incident and assessing the extent of the damage, while policymakers are likely to revisit strategies for protecting critical infrastructure against future attacks.