Coburg (dpa / lby) – A man is said to have set fire to the mayor’s official car and another city vehicle in the courtyard of the Coburg town hall. The fire had already begun to spread to surrounding buildings on Wednesday night, the police said. The investigators assume arson and arrested the 54-year-old. It is estimated that the damage was more than 100,000 euros.
The fire brigade quickly intervened and the fire was quickly brought under control. Police did not say what drove the man.
Coburg’s Lord Mayor Dominik Sauerteig was “shocked and appalled”. The city released a photo of the OB van being burned. “What could have happened if the fire brigade hadn’t arrived on time and extinguished the company cars in time? The savings bank, the town hall, the entire block could have been on fire,” he said. An “inferno” was possible. Luckily, neighbors would have alerted the fire brigade so quickly.
Many City Hall employees are now concerned. “What happens next? I hope the culprit can be held accountable for what he did.” Police are now looking for witnesses, particularly a couple who were in close proximity at the time of the crime and may have important information to share.