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Fire in Baden-Baden in September 2021: Probably arson as the cause
Photo: Patrick Neumann / dpa
Six months after a fire in the "Badischer Hof" in Baden-Baden, the police have released new information about the cause of the fire: The investigators assume that a former employee of the luxury hotel started the fire.
The 36-year-old is now abroad, said the public prosecutor and the police.
“The public prosecutor's office in Baden-Baden arranged for the accused to be questioned in his home country by way of legal assistance.” The suspected arsonist is said to have committed similar crimes abroad in the past.
The investigators did not say which country it was.
The "Badischer Hof" is the oldest palace hotel in Germany.
After being taken over by a hotel group, the hotel was renovated and reopened in mid-July last year.
Around 160 guests brought to safety
The major fire then caused considerable damage in a historical, listed part of the building at the beginning of September.
The police and public prosecutor's office now estimate the damage to property at around 55 million euros, of which around 50 million are to the building and five million to the inventory.
The damage caused by the loss of operations should therefore be around an additional 20 million euros.
Around 160 guests were brought to safety in good time.
The investigators have since interviewed more than 200 witnesses and evaluated traces and clues, they said.
The suspicion of arson by the ex-employee was confirmed.
"On the other side, there is currently nothing to indicate a possible technical cause that could have led to the outbreak of the fire."
The "Badischer Hof" has been closed since the fire.
bbr/dpa