Former Resident Arrested After Fire at Asylum Seeker Center

One person was injured, and significant material damage was reported. Police now have a strong suspect in custody: a former resident of the center.

Update, Sunday (November 23) – Suspect to Face Judge for Detention Hearing

The fire has rendered the asylum seeker center in Seubersdorf uninhabitable. As a police spokesperson reported on Sunday morning (November 23), the 33-year-old suspect is scheduled to be brought before a judge for a detention hearing. A decision on his pre-trial custody is expected during the day.

Fire Started in the Kitchen

According to police, the fire started on Saturday afternoon in the center’s kitchen. Six people were inside the building at the time. One person sustained minor injuries and was transported to a hospital.

Suspect Arrested After Manhunt

The 33-year-old suspect, a former resident of the center, was arrested following an extensive search. The center was left uninhabitable after the fire. Preliminary estimates place the damage in the low six-figure range in euros. The former residents have been temporarily relocated to other accommodations.

Saturday (November 22) First Report:

A large-scale emergency service operation was launched on Saturday afternoon (November 22) at an asylum seeker center in the Dasswang area. A fire was reported in the building at approximately 11:40 AM; six people were inside at the time.

Five residents were able to evacuate the center without injury. One person, according to police, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. It was initially unclear if the injuries were from flames or toxic smoke.

Former Resident Suspected of Arson at Bavarian Asylum Center

During the initial investigation, suspicion quickly focused on a former resident of the asylum seeker center. The 33-year-old Iranian national was apprehended thanks to a large-scale police manhunt, which also involved a helicopter.

The Regensburg Criminal Police, in close coordination with the Nuremberg-Fürth Public Prosecutor’s Office, has now taken over the investigation, which is being supported by, among others, specialist arson investigators. According to an initial assessment by officers, the material damage is likely in the low six-figure euro range. The building has been rendered unusable by the fire, and all residents had to be temporarily rehoused. Details about a possible motive for the alleged crime are not yet available.