Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Burnt willow cathedral to be rebuilt

Rostock (dpa/mv) - The willow dome in Rostock's IGA Park, which was partially destroyed by a fire on Sunday, is to be restored.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Burnt willow cathedral to be rebuilt

Rostock (dpa/mv) - The willow dome in Rostock's IGA Park, which was partially destroyed by a fire on Sunday, is to be restored. "From today's perspective, we assume that the willow dome will be rebuilt," said the managing director of the IGA Park, Oliver Fudickar, on Tuesday at the request of the German Press Agency. There are still no reliable figures for the costs - expert opinions and the assessment of the damage would have to be awaited. The future of the Willow Dome will then be further evaluated.

According to a spokeswoman for the Rostock police inspection, the police investigation into the devastating fire is still ongoing. The interrogations are still ongoing, she said.

The fire investigator assumes negligent arson. Initially, investigators assumed intentional arson. Witnesses saw two youths on the premises when the fire broke out.

The police estimated the damage immediately after the fire at more than 100,000 euros. The Willow Cathedral is a prayer room made of woven willow branches. It was created by the architect Marcel Kalberer, his architectural group "Gentle Structures" and more than 600 volunteers from 13 nations.