Criminality - Brand Foundation in Shelters in Harsewinkel
A nighttime fire in a municipal shelter for the homeless in Harsewinkel near Bielefeld has led to investigations into serious arson. A resident of the facility noticed the fire in the bathroom and toilet area in the night of Wednesday and was able to extinguish the flames. She alerted the fire department, as well as the police and prosecutor's office in Bielefeld reported. No one was injured. The damage at the scene was described as "minor damage from smoke."
According to the city of Harsewinkel in the Gütersloh district, the building in question is a shelter for the homeless. There were reportedly 14 people registered there. In individual cases, refugees could also be accommodated. It was initially unclear how many people were present at the time of the fire.
"According to current knowledge, a flammable liquid may have been used in the room where the fire occurred," reported investigators. Initial assessments cannot exclude a attempted murder attempt. The Police secured traces at the crime scene. Witnesses were questioned. The motive of the perpetrator or perpetrators remains completely unclear.
The incident has sparked concerns about potential criminality, with the Brand Foundation expressing its worry about such incidents in homeless shelters. The police in North Rhine-Westphalia have increased their patrols in the Harsewinkel area following the fire. The fire department commended the quick actions of the shelter resident in stopping the fire from spreading further. The fire department also highlighted the importance of regular safety checks in such facilities to prevent such incidents.
