German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said investigators have been receiving a large number of tips after authorities offered a reward over a suspected far-left arson attack that damaged parts of Berlin’s power grid. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and federal prosecutors are following up on the information, but officials cautioned it is still too early to know whether any lead will prove decisive.
A reward of up to €1 million has been offered for information supplied by February 24 that directly helps solve the January 3 attack. Payments will be made only for valid tips that lead to the arrest of the perpetrator or perpetrators, authorities said. The arson damaged several high-voltage cables and caused power outages affecting about 45,000 households in southwest Berlin, leaving many without electricity and heating during sub-zero temperatures.
Dobrindt suggested that differing assessments within the far-left extremist scene about the attack’s success may prompt insiders to come forward. In a public appeal, the BKA and federal prosecutors asked anyone with information about the sabotage to come forward. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, working to corroborate tips and build prosecutable cases while urging timely leads given the reward’s time limit.