Germany: Arsonists set another refugee facility on fire, shooting also reported

Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports that unidentified arsonists in Germany have set yet another building on fire that had been prepared to accommodate refugees. Last night arsonists attacked the still-empty complex in the Bavarian town of Reichertshofen.

"We have not yet ruled out the possibility that the motivation was xenophobic," police spokesperson Hans-Peter Kammerer said. Several demonstrations had previously been held in the small town against the planned accommodations for refugees.  

The former guesthouse was turned into a residential hotel for refugees that was supposed to open in September. The arsonists set two entrances ablaze and the flames spread into a hall which has been completely destroyed.

The damages are estimated at EUR 150 000 at least. In recent months several arson attacks on future residential hotels for refugees have been reported in several German states.  

Police are also investigating the case of a shooting at a residental hotel in the town of Böhlen near Leipzig in Saxony, which already hosts approximately 160 refugees. Unidentified assailants there fired weapons at the building two nights in a row last weekend.  

No one was physically injured by the incidents. The cladding of the building’s facade was damaged.