A devastating fire broke out in a refugee shelter in Buchholz, near Hamburg, Germany, on July 8, 2024, resulting in one death and approximately 20 injuries. The incident began when police responded to reports of a fight at the shelter, only to encounter a man with flammable liquid that suddenly exploded. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing 30 containers that were part of the shelter complex.According to police reports, the person who died is believed to have been the arsonist, though their identity remains unconfirmed. Among the injured, a 44-year-old police officer suffered severe burns and was airlifted to a specialized clinic in Hamburg. Eight other individuals, including additional police officers, required hospitalization, while the remaining injured were treated at the scene.The shelter, which housed approximately 100 refugees, has been fully evacuated. The 61 residents have been temporarily relocated to a nearby community center. Jan-Hendrik Röhse, the CDU Mayor of Buchholz, stated that the refugee shelter will likely need to be rebuilt from scratch. He assured that efforts are being made to provide the displaced refugees with food, shelter, and psychological counseling.The fire department responded with a large contingent and managed to extinguish the fire relatively quickly. However, the cause of the fire and the motives of the suspected arsonist remain unclear. Investigators are on the scene, but a thorough examination of the site is pending until it cools down sufficiently.
Key points
- A fire at a refugee shelter in Buchholz, Germany, resulted in one death and approximately 20 injuries.
- The deceased is suspected to be the arsonist who started the fire.
- A police officer was severely injured, and the shelter housing 100 refugees has been evacuated.
- Local authorities are working on providing temporary accommodation and support for the displaced refugees.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of injuries, ranging from 20 to 21.
👾Some sources mention 30 containers affected, while others refer to a two-story container building.
