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Suspects Challenge Forensic Analysis in Adlershof Arson Probe

A pending court decision could force return of seized phones and other devices, which would limit prosecutors’ ability to use that material in the case.

Overview

  • A nighttime arson on September 9, 2025 heavily damaged high-voltage cables serving the Adlershof technology park and left about 50,000 households and roughly 2,000 businesses without power.
  • Investigators carried out a large March raid involving about 500 police officers who searched 17 locations and seized mobile phones and other electronic devices now central to the probe.
  • Prosecutors have identified four suspects, two men and two women aged 28 to 36, who are being investigated for verfassungsfeindliche Sabotage, a charge used for attacks on state-protected infrastructure.
  • The defendants have formally objected to the seizure and forensic analysis of their devices and a court ruling is pending that could require the items to be returned and bar their use as evidence.
  • Authorities are also probing links to a January cable-bridge arson in southwest Berlin and say any exclusion of digital evidence could hinder efforts to establish connections and press charges.