Shelter for Ukrainian refugees burns down in Germany amid suspected arson attack

BERLIN

A shelter for Ukrainian refugees in northern Germany was razed to the ground in a blaze, local media reported on Thursday.

None of the 14 refugees dwelling in the shelter were injured on Wednesday evening as the flames consumed the building, once used as a hotel, in Gross Stromkendorf, a town in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The Rostock police headquarters said in a statement that they suspected a political dimension to the arson case, setting up an investigation team led by the acting head of the state protection unit.

Police had visited the accommodation during the weekend after a swastika was found spray painted on the entrance sign, according to local media reports.

District official Tino Schomann told reporters: "From my many years of experience as a firefighter, I currently assume that the fire was set intentionally."

According to the fire department, the emergency services had to allow the building to burn down in a controlled manner, as it could no longer be saved.

The refugees were moved by the district to other accommodations.