Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and Berlin's Senator for Interior, Digitalisation and Sport Iris Spranger attend a press conference about a cyberattack which hit the Berlin's Senate network, in Berlin, Germany, August 28, 2026. REUTERS/Maryam Majd

Berlin city government says it won't submit to extortion after pre-election cyberattack

· The Straits Times

BERLIN, Aug 28 - Berlin's city government will not allow itself to be extorted following a cyberattack on its network, Mayor Kai Wegner said in a statement on Friday, less than a month before the city-state holds elections.

• In a joint statement, Wegner and Berlin's interior senator, Iris Spranger, said: "The state of Berlin will not submit to extortion," without giving further details.

• Broadcaster RBB reported on Thursday evening that Berlin had received ransom demands for an unspecified amount following the attack.

• Officials could not yet provide details on the content or scope of the affected data because the extent of the breach was still being examined, Wegner said at a press conference.

• Spranger said the city's election infrastructure had not been affected and that, according to security officials, no data related to the election had been compromised.

• Berlin is set to elect a new state parliament on September 20. Wegner - a conservative - said in July that he will not seek another term as mayor. REUTERS