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The damaged building of the Bremen space company OHB after the fire
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A fire broke out in the office building of the Bremen space company OHB on New Year's Eve.
The security authorities now suspect the perpetrators to be among the ranks of the left-wing extremist scene - after previous attacks.
There is still no letter of confession, said Interior Senator Ulrich Mäurer (SPD).
"But of course there is a suspicion that the perpetrators are probably to be found in the left-wing extremist scene again this time." Mäurer was referring to an attack in mid-November 2021 when two incendiary devices were discovered in a parking lot in front of the company.
At that time, a short time later, a letter of allegation appeared on an Internet platform classified as left-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which the police checked and judged to be genuine.
One of the reasons for the act in November was the business relationship between OHB and the German Armed Forces, which involved the contract for the SAR-Lupe reconnaissance satellite system.
There was a similar incident at OHB in 2018 when containers were set on fire.
"Anyone who sets a fire in an office is nothing more than a criminal"
The fire on New Year's Eve badly affected several offices on two floors.
The damage assessment is still ongoing, but one can safely assume a six-figure amount, said Dirk Schulze, who is responsible for the location as a member of the OHB Management Board.
At the time of the crime on Saturday night, a security guard was in the building.
But nobody was injured by the fire.
The company management was shocked.
Bremen's Senator for Economic Affairs, Kristina Vogt (left), was at OHB on Monday to get an idea of the scene of the fire.
"Violence is not and cannot be a means of politics," she said.
She referred to the immense importance of space travel for the environment, climate protection, the economy and consumers.
"Without observing the earth, we wouldn't know anything about climate change," says Vogt.
Bremen's mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) also found clear words: »I condemn the attack on OHB in the strictest terms and assure the company of my full solidarity.
Anyone who sets a fire in an office is nothing more than a criminal.
The police will do everything possible to determine the perpetrators, ”he wrote on Twitter.
mrc / dpa