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Aerial view of Arenal on Mallorca
Photo: Hans Blossey / IMAGO
Escalating party tourism has long been a problem on Mallorca.
Now a German tour group in the island's capital, Palma, has apparently gone particularly overboard.
Individual members may have been guilty of arson.
The 13 German holidaymakers were arrested in their hotel last Friday after a serious fire broke out right next to their hostel.
The tourists, according to the "Mallorca Zeitung" members of a bowling club from the Münster area, had apparently celebrated on their balconies.
The fire was allegedly caused by cigarettes thrown by group members on the restaurant's terrace roof.
Apparently, alcohol was also poured onto the roof.
Suspects apparently collectively refused to testify
The responsible investigating judge in Palma ordered the tourists to be held in custody on Saturday without the right to bail.
The accused are said to have exercised their right to refuse to testify when they were questioned by the judge.
The judge assumes “common responsibility”, wrote the newspaper “Diario de Mallorca”, among others.
The police in Palma initially did not provide information on the origin of the German tourists.
Now the suspected arsonists face longer prison sentences.
If they are charged and found guilty of negligent arson, the vacationers on the Spanish Mediterranean island can be sentenced to between one and three years in prison, as Spanish lawyers announced on Monday at the request of the dpa news agency.
In the case of intentional arson, prison sentences of up to six years are provided, it said.
If the court is of the opinion that human lives have been endangered, the verdict could also be significantly harsher.
Great damage for German landlady
According to media reports, the flames had damaged the neighboring restaurant and another, as well as an adjacent apartment and the hotel.
The German landlady of the restaurant that was apparently mainly affected reportedly estimated the damage at at least 150,000 euros.
Two people were slightly injured, it said.
fek/dpa