Hacker attack paralyzes Berlin administration
A cyberattack has severely disrupted parts of Berlin’s state administration, leaving some government employees without internet and email access. Authorities have isolated the affected offices from the state network while investigating the extent of the attack.
The attack affected the Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung, Bauen und Wohnen (Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing) and the Senatsverwaltung für Mobilität, Verkehr, Umwelt und Klimaschutz (Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Environment and Climate Protection).
The affected departments were disconnected from Berlin’s state network on Friday as a precautionary measure. Officials said the step was intended to prevent the attackers from causing further damage while specialists examine the systems.
The Landeskriminalamt (State Criminal Police Office), the Berlin public prosecutor’s office and the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (Federal Office for Information Security, BSI) have been brought into the investigation. Authorities have also established an emergency crisis team led by Berlin’s state information security commissioner.
The disruption has had a major impact on employees. According to reports, the loss of internet and email services has left some staff “practically unable to work.” Working from home has also reportedly become impossible because employees cannot access essential systems.
Authorities have not yet revealed how the attackers gained access, who may be behind the operation or how extensive the damage is. It also remains unclear whether confidential information was stolen or whether any data left the affected government networks.
The incident has renewed concerns about the cybersecurity of Berlin’s public administration. The capital has faced repeated cyber threats in recent years, and the latest attack highlights how quickly the disruption of digital infrastructure can bring important government work to a standstill.