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Fires in Essen
Fire attacks on residential buildings were probably aimed at a family
Essen's mayor has announced new details after the fire in two houses: the target of the attack is said to be a family, eight children are injured. The police are discussing the suspect's motives.
29.09.2024, 12.39 p.m.



Police officers with residents in front of a residential building after the fires in Essen

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Police officers with residents in front of a residential building after the fires in Essen Photo: Markus Gayk / picture alliance / dpa
According to Mayor Thomas Kufen (CDU), the suspected arson attacks in Essen, which left around 30 people injured, were probably directed against members of the same family. "The acts were obviously targeted at a family," said Kufen. He was particularly shocked that it was accepted that small children might be harmed. The city in the Ruhr region had experienced "dramatic hours."

The police also announced that they assumed there was a private motive. According to investigations, the perpetrator was concerned that "his wife had separated from him." The public prosecutor's office will apply for an arrest warrant against the 41-year-old Syrian today on charges including aggravated arson and attempted murder. The man has already been convicted of threats and property damage. He is currently not commenting on the charges.

Mayor Kufen thanked the fire brigade, rescue workers and police for their work. "I would like to thank everyone who calmly helped to catch the suspected perpetrator for their civil courage." Several men, some with shovels and poles in their hands, caught the perpetrator and held him until the police arrived.

A man is suspected of setting two fires in Essen on Saturday and then driving a car into two shops. He has been arrested by the police.

The man is said to have driven a delivery van into two shops in the Katernberg district on Saturday afternoon after the fires. One of them was a fruit and vegetable shop. He is said to have then threatened people with stabbing weapons, possibly with a machete. According to the police, no one was injured.

Toddlers critically injured
According to police, eight children were seriously injured in the fires, and at least two small children suffered life-threatening injuries from inhaling smoke. The police spokesman could not say whether the two children's lives are still in danger. They are being treated in special clinics.

The fires in the two apartment buildings broke out on Saturday afternoon in the Altenessen and Stoppenberg districts. According to reports, the fire department and police received numerous emergency calls about a fire at around 5.10 p.m. Shortly afterwards, a fire broke out in another apartment building.

One of the stairwells after the fire

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One of the stairwells after the fire Photo: Thomas Banneyer / dpa
According to the fire department, the stairwells of the buildings were no longer passable shortly afterwards, so that the residents were trapped. Neighbors put construction ladders against the wall, but they were not high enough.

"But that meant that when we arrived, people were already hanging from the windows, keeping children out," said a fire department spokesman. The situation was "dramatic." All residents were then brought to safety by the fire department.

More on the topic
Fires in two places at the same time: Around 30 injured in fires in Essen – one arrest
Around 30 injured in fires in Essen – one arrest
At its peak, around 160 emergency services were involved. Two large fires that had to be fought in parallel were a challenge even for a large city like Essen, said the fire department spokesman. The operation lasted about one and a half hours.