Germany to strenghten critical infrastructure as Russia fears spike

"Parliament will vote on legislation requiring power utilities, water companies and even some supermarket chains to reduce their vulnerability to terrorism, industrial accidents, natural disasters and public health emergencies. The package, which aims to bring Germany in line with EU directives, would oblige some 1,700 essential services providers to step up physical security and alarm systems, carry out regular risk assessments and promptly report incidents."

"A wake-up call came weeks ago in Berlin when a mid-winter arson attack on a high-voltage power cable claimed by a far-left militant group plunged tens of thousands of households into icy darkness for nearly a week. The attack, which sparked public fury amid a slow response, has led the government to offer a one-million-euro reward this week for tips leading to arrests of the culprits, who called themselves the "Vulkangruppe" (Vulcan Group)."

""The left-wing extremist attack on the Berlin power grid and all the many other attacks -- both small and large - in recent months have shown that we simply have to protect our critical infrastructure better," Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday. Information about such infrastructure should no longer be so easily available to the public, he said, calling for a shift from "transparency towards greater resilience"."

Parliament will vote on legislation requiring power utilities, water firms and some supermarket chains to reduce vulnerabilities to terrorism, industrial accidents, natural disasters and public health emergencies. The law would oblige about 1,700 essential service providers to upgrade physical security and alarm systems, conduct regular risk assessments, and promptly report incidents. Covered facilities serve more than 500,000 people across energy, water, food, health, transport, IT, telecommunications, financial services and waste disposal. A recent mid-winter arson attack on a high-voltage cable plunged tens of thousands into darkness and prompted a one-million-euro reward for tips. Officials emphasize shifting from transparency toward greater resilience, while some experts call the measures insufficient.

Read at The Local Germany