Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Waiting for results after fire in refugee accommodation

Groß Strömkendorf (dpa/mv) - After the fire in a refugee accommodation in Groß Strömkendorf near Wismar, the first test results could be available in the coming days.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Waiting for results after fire in refugee accommodation

Groß Strömkendorf (dpa/mv) - After the fire in a refugee accommodation in Groß Strömkendorf near Wismar, the first test results could be available in the coming days. On Thursday, fire investigators took samples from the ruins to be examined in a laboratory. Rostock Police Vice President Michael Peters had announced that the results would not be available until the beginning of the week at the earliest.

A fire broke out in the refugee accommodation in a former hotel in Groß Strömkendorf on Wednesday evening. The building was largely destroyed. All 14 residents and three carers were unharmed. A more accurate estimate of the amount of damage can only be made when the fire report is available. However, the police are assuming damage in the millions.

After initial investigations, the police assume arson and a political background. State security is investigating. A few days before the fire, swastika daubs were discovered nearby.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) had spoken of a terrible fire that was affecting her. People who had fled to Germany with their last belongings before the war lived in the accommodation. "If the suspicion of arson is confirmed, this whole process would be even more terrible," she said at the scene of the fire. "We do not tolerate hate or violence against people in our country." The mayor of the Blowatz community, to which Groß Strömkendorf belongs, Tino Schmidt (SPD), had warned against jumping to conclusions. The refugees from Ukraine were accepted.