After the arson attack on a planned refugee home in Bautzen, Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) wants to get an idea of the situation on the ground on Saturday. According to the investigators’ initial findings, a fire broke out in the former “Spreehotel” early on Friday morning after the perpetrators smashed the windows.
The state government condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer spoke of a disgusting act. The CDU politician announced that their clarification had “top priority”. The first refugees should move into the house next week. Four people who stayed in the building were unharmed. According to the city, they were employees of the hotel owner.
Already in 2016 attempted arson attack
According to a spokeswoman for the district office, the former hotel, located outside of the city on a reservoir, is being made available by a private owner and operated by the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Awo). Asylum seekers were also housed there from 2015 to 2017, with a maximum of around 200. There had already been an attempted arson attack on the building in 2016. At the time, three young men threw Molotov cocktails over a fence in the direction of the house.
According to the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), after the fire on Friday, serious arson is being investigated. The police counter-terrorism and extremism center (PTAZ) took over the investigation. An LKA spokesman said: “A political background cannot be ruled out.”
Last week, accommodation for refugees from Ukraine burned down in Groß Strömkendorf in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The investigators suspect a political background.
Interior Minister Schuster condemned the act in Bautzen. “Burning houses out of hatred because you don’t want refugees near you is deeply primitive and inhuman,” said the CDU politician, according to the statement. It is not yet known who threw the incendiary devices into the building. “But we have to assume a xenophobic arson attack.” He wanted to go to the accommodation on Saturday afternoon.
“Attacks on refugee accommodation are completely unacceptable,” wrote Social Affairs Minister Petra Köpping (SPD), who is also responsible for social cohesion in Saxony. Udo Witschas (CDU), district administrator of the district of Bautzen, was “absolutely shocked and angry”. Human lives were carelessly endangered.
Witnesses should report
According to LKA information, the building has now been cordoned off over a large area, fire investigators and a tracking dog were deployed. Police called on potential witnesses to come forward.
The first 30 refugees should move into the accommodation next Thursday. According to the district office, the families come from Syria, North Macedonia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Georgia and the Russian Federation. It is currently not clear whether the original plans will be followed.
According to the district office, last Tuesday there was a town meeting with residents and district representatives in the former hotel. “Of course there were also concerns and criticism from the residents, but this is usually the case with such appointments,” it said.
In the course of the meeting, there was also a demo organized by the AfD in the immediate vicinity, the district office said. The district chairman of the left in Bautzen sees the AfD as responsible. “Anyone who spreads hate is complicit!” wrote Silvio Lang on Twitter. The AfD district association announced on Friday: “We have exercised our democratic right to freedom of expression and criticism of the previous asylum policy and reject any form of violence.”
