Hamburg, January 23 – The city of Hamburg is set to establish a Central Crisis Staff to enhance the protection of its critical infrastructure. This decision comes in the wake of a recent attack on Berlin’s power grid and a reported 40 left-wing extremist motivated attacks on Hamburg’s infrastructure since 2020.
Hamburg Responds to Infrastructure Threats
According to information released by the Senate, none of the attacks attributed to suspected left-wing extremists in Hamburg had consequences as severe as the incident in Berlin earlier this January. However, the sheer number of incidents has prompted a reassessment of the city’s preparedness. Of the 40 reported incidents, 29 targeted public transportation, while four involved the energy supply network.
A significant peak in these incidents was observed in 2021, with 14 occurrences. Since then, the numbers have shown a decline, as stated by the Senate in response to a minor inquiry from the AfD party.
Central Crisis Staff for Enhanced Coordination
The authorities assert that current systems for hazard prevention and fault rectification are generally well-equipped. The Senate highlighted 23 different disaster protection exercises conducted over the past decade as evidence of their preparedness.
However, the disaster service of the Interior Ministry is slated for expansion into a Central Crisis Staff. In the event of a blackout, similar to the one in Berlin, this new body would be responsible for coordinating all authorities and departments, aiming for a faster and more effective response.
The AfD party has expressed doubts regarding the sufficiency of these measures. Party leader Dirk Nockemann called for a tougher stance against left-wing extremism to adequately safeguard critical infrastructure.
Expert Weighs in on Left-Wing Extremism
Despite a relatively low number of violent acts, the potential danger posed by left-wing extremism remains considerable. Extremism expert Hansen emphasized that left-wing extremism must be taken very seriously, underscoring the potential risks despite the current low incidence of violence.
This topic was also featured in the NDR 90.3 Aktuell program on January 22, 2026, at 06:30 AM.
