Photo Gallery Arson Attack in Tröglitz
A fire truck is seen in front of a building damaged in an apparent arson attack in Tröglitz, Germany. Some 40 refugees were to be provided with accomodation in the building starting in mid-May.
Residents first noticed the fire at 2 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Two residents still living in the building were able to safely escape.
The fire destroyed the roof and police have estimate the damage to be in the six-digits.
Police believe an arson attack caused the fire. They say that one or more perpetrators broke into the building at night and set fire to it. "It is very likely that they also used an accelerant," police said in a statement. Investigators believe there is a strong possibility the crime was politically motivated.
The former local mayor, Markus Nierth (right), was clearly shaken by the events. "It's terrible and I'm sad," he told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "People are really upset here. Many are angry and know exactly what this fire will do to the city's reputation." Nierth said he assumes Saturday's fire was an act of arson.
The former mayor posted fliers around town calling on local residents to protest against what was likely a xenophobic act. The flier describes the arson attack as a "lasting disgrace for Tröglitz that puts us in the same ranks with Mölln and Hoyerswerda." Those are the names of towns in Germany that are infamous for previous racist attacks.
Nierth resigned as the town's mayor close to four weeks ago. The independent politician had campaigned for the city to provide accommodation for asylum-seekers for months. In the end, local residents and members of the neo-Nazi NPD threatened to march to Nierth's house, prompting the father of seven children to step down. He said he felt abandoned by the authorities and many local residents. He also criticized what he called the "silent centrists."
Last Tuesday, County Commissioner Götz Ulrich invited residents to a town hall meeting to discuss the plan to provide housing for asylum-seekers. Around 500 people turned up to learn more about the new asylum-seekers' hostel. After the fire, Ulrich said, "We are all shocked. ... It is clear we should still host refugees here."
County Commissioner Ulrich had said the refugee families would move into 12 apartments in the building that was later attacked. Anti-refugee sentiment was palpable at the meeting, which had also been attended by members of the right-wing extremist, neo-Nazi NPD party.
Voices expressing solidarity with refugees weren't as loud at the meeting. Here, members of the Protestant Church can be seen holding up a banner during the meeting. "Brotherly love requires clarity: The Protestant Church opposes right-wing extremism." Former mayor Nierth is working together with Pastor Matthias Keilholz of the Protestant Church on a local movement to create a more welcoming culture for refugees.
Saxony-Anhalt Governor Reiner Haselhof (left) spoke of a "crime" in an interview with a German public broadcaster on Sunday. "This is a question of our democracy," he said. "We cannot retreat one bit."
Meanwhile, German Justice Minister Heiko Maas tweeted, "Those who set fire to a refugee hostel are acting with cowardice and hate. A disgraceful act in #Troeglitz. We have to take a joint stance against right-wing hatred."
