German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said investigators have received a high volume of tips after authorities announced a reward in connection with a suspected far-left arson attack that damaged parts of Berlin’s power grid. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and federal prosecutors are pursuing the information, but officials stressed it is still too early to say whether any lead will be decisive.
Authorities have offered up to €1 million for information provided 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, officials said. The fire damaged several high-voltage cables and triggered power outages that affected about 45,000 households in southwest Berlin, leaving many residents without electricity and heating amid sub-zero temperatures.
Dobrindt suggested that differing views within the far-left extremist scene about the attack’s outcome could prompt insiders to come forward. In a public appeal, the BKA and federal prosecutors invited anyone with relevant information to contact investigators. Officials said they are working to corroborate tips and build prosecutable cases while urging timely leads because of the reward’s deadline.