A nine-year-old in Hesse is said to have set fire to a school toilet, apparently to take part in a challenge on social networks.
This was announced by the Offenbach police.
According to the press release, the child may have been tempted to do so by various videos on the Internet.
The fire broke out on Monday morning in the boys' toilet at a primary school in Hanau.
The nine-year-old is said to have ignited toilet paper and cloth towels with a lighter.
The fire later spread to the toilet fixtures.
Rescue workers brought the fire under control and nobody was injured.
According to the police, damage to property was up to 30,000 euros.
According to the investigators, the background to the crime has not yet been finally clarified.
However, it is likely related to a trend on social media.
The police pointed out that such “challenges”, in which furniture in school toilets is known to be set on fire, vandalized or stolen, do not fall under the rubric of student pranks.
Such actions are not only dangerous, they are usually criminal offenses.
sun/AFP