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73-Year-Old Faces Murder Trial Over Fatal Hamburg Hospital Fire

The court is weighing psychiatric commitment following an expert finding of lack of criminal responsibility.

Overview

  • Prosecutors charge the former Marienkrankenhaus patient with three counts of murder and aggravated arson after a June 1 blaze that killed three geriatric patients and injured dozens.
  • The suspect allegedly ignited his pillow, rapidly filling the geriatrics ward with smoke; more than 200 responders contained the fire within about 20 minutes and carried out extensive rescues.
  • Proceedings are being held as a Sicherungsverfahren focused on potential long-term detention in a psychiatric hospital, with the possibility of closed-door sessions.
  • In Seubersdorf, police arrested a 33-year-old Iranian former resident after a fire at an asylum accommodation left one person lightly injured and the building temporarily uninhabitable.
  • Investigators in Hersbruck identified the deceased from a house fire as the 68-year-old tenant, with an autopsy citing smoke-gas intoxication, while separate incidents included a Stuttgart house fire with reported explosions injuring two and an A3 truck blaze from a burst tire that led to 50 fines for onlookers filming.