GERMANY: Arsonists continue attacks on Berlin cars

Record ID: 353304

  • Title: GERMANY: Arsonists continue attacks on Berlin cars
  • Date: 20th August 2011
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 19, 2011) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) FIRE ENGINE WITH LIGHTS ON VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS AT BURNT CAR (SOUNDBITE) (German) VICTIM, NAME UNKNOWN, SAYING: "I think it is just terrible. How, as a normal person, can one think it's right to attack such objects. I don't understand it." (SOUNDBITE) (German) NEIGHBOUR OF VICTIM, NAME UNKNOWN, SAYING: "You a
  • Embargoed: 4th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany, Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA4IMN84J6XPWGCJY64NH498YIR
  • Story Text: A series of arson attacks continued in the German capital on Thursday (August 18) night and the early hours of Friday (August 19) morning with cars across the city being set alight.
    Firefighters were called to a used-car garage in the eastern district of Koepenick where several vehicles had been put on fire and in a residential area where a number of small cars were burnt on the street.
    Around fifty cars have been burnt out by arsonists over the past week in the city.
    Police are working to find those responsible for the arson attacks, with more than 100 officers on call overnight and police helicopters with heat sensors also being used.
    Investigators have not yet been able to catch the culprits or find the reason behind the attacks.
    Until now the attacks have been focused in the western district of Charlottenburg but Thursday night saw the first cases in the east, where residents and those affected have been left shocked.
    "I think it is just terrible. How, as a normal person, can one think it's right to attack such objects. I don't understand it," said one woman, who's car was destroyed in the night.
    "You are scared the whole time that you'll be affected by it because they're not able to find the culprits," the victim's neighbour said.
    German Chancellor Merkel on Thursday also condemned the actions of the arsonists.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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