Berlin faced another wave of left-wing extremist violence as 16 trucks belonging to concrete companies Cemex and Heidelberg Materials were set ablaze overnight on Monday.
The self-proclaimed perpetrators, in a statement published on the far-left portal Indymedia, accused the companies of engaging in “neo-colonial politics” and benefiting from “war, exploitation, and genocide” in their areas of operation.
This attack is part of a broader series of assaults targeting concrete producers globally. The culprits claim to be affiliated with the “Switch Off” movement, which seeks to disrupt major projects they describe as “destructive to the ecosystem.” The group calls their actions a stand against what they term the “capitalist machinery.”
The State Criminal Police Office is now investigating the case as intentional arson.
Not the First Incident in Berlin
This isn’t the first time Berlin’s industrial sector has been targeted. Late last year, several truck transporters and the headquarters of another company were set on fire, accompanied by a similar left-wing extremist claim of responsibility.
Attacks on critical infrastructure in the region have become increasingly common. Earlier this year, the “Volcanic Group” sabotaged a substation near Tesla’s battery factory in Grünheide, Brandenburg. Declaring, “Together we bring Tesla to her knees,” the group also claimed responsibility for repeated assaults on railway lines in and around Berlin.
Authorities are grappling with a growing pattern of left-wing extremist attacks on businesses and infrastructure, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
