Cologne: Firefighter arrested as suspected serial arsonist

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Police vehicle in Cologne (archive image)

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Ralph Peters / imago images/Ralph Peters

A Cologne firefighter is suspected of being a serial arsonist and of having set fire to eight cars.

The 20-year-old was caught in the act on Wednesday night and arrested, as the police and prosecutors reported.

The Cologne fire brigade confirmed on Friday that it was an employee – and reacted with dismay: "We regret that someone from the Cologne fire brigade is involved in the incidents." The suspect was suspended until the allegations were clarified, disciplinary proceedings against him had been initiated.

Several media had previously reported that it was a firefighter.

Accelerator secured

According to the announcement, civil investigators saw the suspect leaving a garage yard at night.

There, officers noticed a burning car.

While a police officer fought the flames with a fire extinguisher, his colleagues overpowered the suspect.

They said they had fire accelerants and a lighter in his clothing.

During the search of his apartment, the police officers confiscated further fire accelerants, two computers and four tablets.

wit/dpa