Explosion damages entrance of Vivantes Hospital Neukölln; State Security investigates possible political motive

In the early hours of 11 November 2025, an explosion damaged the entrance area of the Vivantes Klinikum Neukolln on Kormoranweg in the Berlin district of Buckow. According to Berlin police, an apparently illegal pyrotechnic device detonated at around 1:15 a.m. at the entrance to the hospital's radiation therapy department. Window panes, a door and the building facade were damaged, and the reception desk in the entrance area briefly caught fire. The damage was described as considerable, but hospital operations continued and no one was injured.

Investigators reported what appeared to be a mixture of fuel and illegal pyrotechnics. Some reporting raised the possibility that so-called Kugelbomben (large fireworks devices banned for private use in Germany) had been used, though police said they could not confirm the specifics at this stage.

The State Security service (Staatsschutz), which handles politically motivated crime, took over the case, and explosives specialists from the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) were also involved. Police said they were examining whether extremists were behind the act, treating it as a possible politically motivated attack. The same night, a fire was discovered at the Charite university hospital in Berlin-Mitte, and authorities were investigating whether the two incidents were connected. Police appealed for witnesses and asked the public to provide photos, videos or descriptions of suspicious persons. As of the initial reporting, no suspects had been named and the investigation was ongoing.

The facts established so far are limited: an explosive or pyrotechnic device damaged the radiation therapy entrance of the Vivantes hospital, no one was hurt, and Berlin's State Security service is leading the inquiry on suspicion of a politically motivated act. Attribution remains open. Police have not named a perpetrator, motive or ideological background, and no group has been linked. The apparent targeting of cancer treatment areas at two hospitals on the same night, and the parallel Charite fire, are the main reasons authorities suspect a deliberate, possibly coordinated act, but this remains under investigation.