The Syrian migrant who set fire to an apartment house in Leipzig in the early morning hours of Good Friday, wounding 16, and killing one woman, did so on purpose.
The Federal Prosecutor confirmed to Bild newspaper that the man was arrested and charged with first-degree arson, murder, and attempted murder, since the arson was intentional.
The man had set fire to a rubbish bin at the rear exit, so that the entire stairs and hallway caught fire within minutes, from the ground floor to the roof. The house’s entrance appears to have been blocked with a sofa.
According to neighbours, the Syrian regularly fought with his wife. Police had to intervene several times to stop the domestic violence.
The woman who died in the flames has not yet been identified, but is believed to be the tenant Sandy B., 40 years old. An unidentified man, who is in critical condition with severe burns, is believed to be her partner.
The two who had to jump from the roof into the firefighters’ cushion, a man and a woman, suffered broken bones, but are otherwise fine.
What was left of the staircase collapsed Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the debate as to whether Islam belongs to Germany is raging, but both celebrities and the clergy have tried to convince the public of the contrary.
The German daily Die Welt, questioned their readers via an opinion barometer: “Are you still interested in the debate about Islam?” The clear answer: More than 70 percent of the participants answered with “Yes, that’s an important topic”.
Catholic leader, Cardinal Reinhard Marx in his Good Friday message, declared the Islam debate without further ado “non-continuing” since all Muslims are “human beings” with “individual qualities”.