Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner is facing intense criticism after it was revealed he played tennis while a major blackout left approximately 50,000 households without power. The outage, which struck the German capital late Thursday, has been linked to a suspected arson attack on high-voltage power lines.

Opposition leaders and residents have slammed the mayor's choice to continue his leisure activities while the city entered a state of emergency. Wegner’s office confirmed he was at a private sports club during the initial hours of the crisis, leading to calls for his immediate resignation.

The blackout was triggered by a fire at a critical substation in the Lichtenberg district, an act later claimed by a far-left extremist group. This group cited opposition to urban development and high energy costs as the primary motivation for the targeted sabotage of the city's infrastructure.

Public reaction has been swift, with political rivals describing Wegner’s behavior as a "gross dereliction of duty." Experts suggest this incident could severely damage the mayor’s approval ratings and weaken the current coalition government’s standing regarding public safety and crisis management.

Repair crews worked throughout the night to restore electricity, but several districts remained in the dark for over twelve hours. The disruption caused chaos in public transport, with several U-Bahn lines suspended and traffic lights failing across major intersections.

Authorities have launched a high-level investigation into the security breach that allowed the arsonists to access the substation. Federal police are now involved, as the incident is being treated as a domestic terrorism threat against Germany’s critical energy grid.

Looking ahead, the city senate is scheduled to hold an emergency session on Monday to discuss improved security measures for utility sites. Wegner is expected to face a formal inquiry regarding his timeline of events and decision-making during the start of the blackout.

Key Takeaways

Mayor Kai Wegner stayed at a private tennis club while 50,000 Berlin households lost power due to a suspected arson attack.

A far-left extremist group claimed responsibility for the sabotage, citing protests against energy costs and urban development projects.

The city senate will hold an emergency session Monday to address the mayor's conduct and the vulnerability of Berlin's power infrastructure.

Adapted From:

https://www.euronews.com/2026/01/09/berlin-mayor-kai-wegner-under-fire-for-playing-tennis-during-major-blackout-caused-by-atta

Was it a lighted court?