Overview
- Prosecutors in Dresden said Thursday they ended the criminal investigation into the June 6 blaze at the former Staatsoperette in Leuben.
- Five children, reported as 11 and 12 years old, were suspected of entering the vacant site and igniting paper with lighters inside the auditorium.
- Investigators reported no indications that older youths or adults were involved in the incident.
- The fire destroyed large parts of the building and caused a roof collapse, while the exact financial damage remains unconfirmed after early six- to seven-figure estimates.
- The property has stood empty since the opera company relocated in 2016, and firefighters battled the blaze for hours with a major deployment.