In recent months, suspicious incidents around Berlin’s medical facilities have increased sharply. The Berlin Hospital Association reports unidentified drone overflights, cyberattacks, door break-ins, unauthorized filming, and arson.
The most high-profile incidents of recent months include:
an explosion at the entrance to the Charité;
a massive arson attack at the Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln;
multiple cyberattacks, including the shutdown of the IT systems of the Johannesstift Diakonie hospitals in 2024.
Hospital representatives claim that protecting their facilities has gone beyond internal measures and has become a matter of national security. The state police, the State Protection Service, and likely federal authorities are investigating.
Possible motives include elements of hybrid warfare, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and political extremism. Authorities are discussing reinforced perimeters, drone detection systems, and additional cybersecurity measures.
The medical community and residents are expressing serious concern: any disruption to hospital operations directly threatens the lives of patients.