The assault in Essen focused on a particular family.
In the city of Essen, there were reports of intentional fires in apartment buildings that left around 30 individuals injured, with two young children in critical condition. Mayor Thomas Kufen commented on the preliminary findings, suggesting that the fires were specifically targeted against a particular family. He expressed apprehension over the young children being endangered.
Kufen thanked the firefighters, emergency services, and police for their commendable efforts. He praised the bravery of local residents who helped in detaining the suspected arsonist using makeshift tools before the police arrived.
The 41-year-old suspect is due to be presented before a judge later in the day. According to the police, he is being accused of grave arson and attempted murder, with his motives yet to be clarified. The police are urging anyone with footage of the incident to share it.
Additionally, the suspect is also under investigation for ramming a delivery van into two stores earlier that day and brandishing sharp weapons to intimidate people. The police revealed that he is a resident of Essen holding Syrian citizenship.
Lives Hanging in the Balance
The two young children critically injured from smoke inhalation are currently receiving treatment in specialized clinics. The police spokesperson could not confirm the current condition of the children.
Fires broke out in two apartment buildings in the districts of Altenessen and Stoppenberg on Saturday afternoon. The buildings were soon deemed unreachable, trapping the residents within. Neighbors supplied ladders, but they were not high enough. A firefighter spokesperson stated that upon arrival, residents were already dangling from windows, clutching children. The situation was intense. All residents were eventually rescued by the firefighters.
At the peak of the incident, around 160 emergency personnel were mobilized. Dealing with two major fires simultaneously is a formidable challenge even for a large city like Essen, the spokesperson admitted. The operation lasted approximately one and a half hours.
Firefighting teams worked tirelessly to extinguish the fires in the districts of Altenessen and Stoppenberg, saving numerous lives. Mayor Kufen commended the firefighters for their heroic efforts in the face of such a challenging situation.
