At a maypole watch in the district of Deggendorf, a terrible incident occurred – a man was on fire. Now it slowly turns out that it has probably been set on fire. (Symbolic image) © Westend61 / IMAGO
Initially, it was assumed to be an accident, but slowly it turns out that the 40-year-old was probably set on fire during his maypole watch.
Oberpöring – On the night of April 29 to April 30, a terrible incident occurred in Oberpöring, Deggendorf district. A 40-year-old had suffered serious burn injuries during a maypole watch, according to a press release from the Lower Bavaria police headquarters. Now more details are coming to light – which no longer point to an accident.
Man burns during maypole vigil – it was probably not an accident
On Thursday, June 1, police issued another press release regarding the incident at the end of April. In it, the officials report that new findings shed a different light on the case. Initially, it was not until the afternoon of April 30 that the incident was reported to the Plattling police station, after which an accident had to be assumed. However, the first investigations have already revealed suspicions that the sequence of events described by those involved "could not be reconciled with the injuries suffered by the 40-year-old," according to the press release.
In other words, the reports of those involved are not correct. According to the police, the intensive investigations of the Deggendorf public prosecutor's office in close cooperation with the Deggendorf criminal police station have now led to the realization that the man must have been set on fire by two young people. They had sprayed the 40-year-old between 1:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. during the maypole watch of a fire brigade "with flammable liquid and then set fire to the outerwear with a lighter". Then those involved were added to extinguish the fire – whereupon the man, apparently with serious injuries, left the site.
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Suspicion of grievous bodily harm – was the victim forced to remain silent?
The two teenagers are now being investigated on suspicion of serious bodily harm. But it doesn't stop there: according to the press release, the investigations have also revealed indications that the 40-year-old was influenced to report an accident or self-inflicted behavior. In addition, targeted false statements are said to have been made in consultation. Therefore, "the investigations are also directed against another five people present at the maypole guard on suspicion of obstruction of justice and failure to render assistance," the press release says. It is "another adolescent, two adolescents and two adult men".
The severe burn injuries still have consequences for the 40-year-old today. On April 30, he was admitted to a special clinic, where, according to the police, several surgical procedures had to be performed. Currently, he is no longer in inpatient treatment, but the "severe burn injuries to the face and in the front of the body" make further follow-up treatments necessary, the police writes in conclusion.
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