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Arsonists attack Rostock parking lot: Ten cars in flames!
In Rostock, several cars burn in Groß Klein in a deliberate case of arson. The police are investigating.
Arsonists attack Rostock parking lot: Ten cars in flames!
The night of Sunday, August 10th, was not quiet in Rostock. In a dramatic series of arsons, a total of ten cars were set ablaze in a parking lot in the Groß Klein district. Two vehicles burned down completely, while eight others were badly damaged. The damage has not yet been precisely quantified, but initial estimates point to large sums, especially since police suspect that accelerant was used to deliberately ignite the fire. A nearby affected tree also fell victim to the flames.
The emergency calls to the police and fire department were received around 1:30 a.m. Firefighters rushed to the scene with several vehicles and were able to put out the fires. The search for the arsonists has so far been unsuccessful, while detectives secured evidence at the crime scene. Investigations are already underway to clarify the background to this shocking act. The Rostock blue light reporter Stefan Tretropp notes that the frequency of such incidents has been increasing recently and that garbage containers are also being deliberately set on fire.
Series of fires in Rostock
There have already been 13 confirmed car fires in Rostock this year. Three other cars were damaged when the flames spread. As NDR reports, the police rule out technical defects as the cause and consider arson to be likely in all cases. The fires mostly occur at night or in the early hours of the morning, adding to residents' concerns.
The most affected vehicle brands include Fiat, VW, Opel and Renault. The total damage from the fires so far amounts to over 280,000 euros. While Rostock is high on the list when it comes to arson this year with around 86,000 registered cars, a comparison with other cities such as Lübeck and Schwerin shows that Rostock has a worrying level of car arson. In Lübeck there were only seven cases of arson per 100,000 cars, while even fewer incidents were reported in Schwerin and Neubrandenburg.
Looking at the recent past
Last year, Rostock also recorded a series of car fires caused by five young people. According to police reports, they committed such drastic acts out of boredom. The current situation raises questions as to whether there are similar motivations this time or possibly different motives. The responsibility for ensuring that the quality of life in the city is not jeopardized by such acts lies not only with the authorities, but ultimately also with the civilian population.
The city government appears relatively unconcerned about the car fire problem, citing other challenges such as the increase in graffiti vandalism. However, safety on the streets remains a key concern for Rostock residents and the police will continue to work immediately to resolve these fire cases.
The increasing number of arson cases in Germany as a whole are being documented by the Federal Criminal Police Office, with the numbers showing clear trends in recent years. The development in Rostock could be seen as a microcosm for larger social problems that need to be addressed urgently. Detailed information about arson statistics can be found at Statista.