County of Ansbach - Suspect arrested after fire in refugee accommodation
Following the arson in an uninhabited refugee shelter in Wassertrüdingen, Middle Franconia, the police have caught the alleged perpetrator. A 33-year-old suspect confessed during questioning that he had deliberately set the fire at the end of November, the Central Franconia police headquarters announced on Thursday.
A spokesman for the Ansbach public prosecutor's office said that the man had not yet given any specific details about his motive. According to the current state of the investigation, the suspect acted alone and had no connections to the right-wing extremist milieu. The investigation is ongoing.
An arrest warrant requested by the public prosecutor's office against the suspect for intentional arson was suspended by the district court subject to conditions. According to the information provided, the man from the district of Ansbach has family and work in the region. He must now report regularly to the police.
After the fire on November 23, the police quickly found evidence of arson. With the help of footage from a surveillance camera, investigators became aware of the driver of a van as a possible perpetrator. In the course of further investigations, the police were able to identify the man. After a search of his home, the 33-year-old was arrested on Wednesday.
No people were injured in the fire in the unoccupied accommodation. Two containers and a large tent were damaged. The police estimate the damage at around 50,000 euros.
Police statement
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- The arson incident at the refugee accommodation in Wassertrüdingen, handled by the Middle Franconia's public prosecutor's office, has brought up concerns about criminality in the district of Ansbach.
- The public prosecutor's office in Ansbach has also been monitoring cases of potential arson attacks on other refugee accommodations in Bavaria, amidst escalating tensions.
- The alleged arsonist, now under police supervision, was found by authorities nearby, in a different refugee accommodation in the district of Ansbach where he resided and worked.
- As investigations continue, there is growing worry that this could be a targeted attack on refugee accommodations in the region, adding to the overall climate of unrest and fears of rising extremism.
- Raising concerns about the safety and well-being of refugees in the area, local and state officials have pledged to take measures to improve security at refugee accommodations, especially in the Middle Franconia district, including the Ansbach district.
- As the public prosecutor's office continues to build a case against the accused arsonist, refugee organizations and advocates in Bavaria and across Germany call for increased government support and funding for security measures at refugee accommodations in the face of increasing arson attacks.
Source: www.stern.de
