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Excavator (symbol image)
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte / dpa
A building contractor in the Black Forest apparently deliberately damaged a new building complex with around 30 residential units with an excavator.
This resulted in damage of around half a million euros, as the police announced.
As the reason for the destruction in Blumberg (Schwarzwald-Baar district), the 47-year-old allegedly named wrongly withheld payments by the client.
Probably out of "frustration," as a police spokesman said, the man had torn down several balconies with the tracked vehicle on Wednesday evening and destroyed parts of the building facade.
He also damaged garages that had gas bottles on them.
The police cordoned off the area widely, according to the information, as the damaged containers may pose a risk of explosion.
"There were no people in the building, but the action attracted around 50 onlookers," it said.
Among other things, the SWR showed pictures of the damaged new building complex.
After the destruction, the contractor got into his car and drove away.
Shortly afterwards he reported to the police.
He is now being charged with property damage, as the police spokesman said.
wit / dpa