Overview

• A fire broke out Thursday morning in a circus tent in Aldenhoven, Germany, where 113 children were rehearsing for a performance.
• Eighteen people were injured, including 14 children, a kindergarten teacher, and a fire stunt performer who suffered second-degree burns.
• Emergency responders treated all victims, with several transported to the hospital for further care.
• Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, which raises questions about safety protocols at the circus.
• The circus operator, currently serving a jail sentence for aggravated assault, has faced scrutiny following a similar fire at a 2024 festival in Leipzig that injured 23 people.