Overview

• Germany’s largest wooden church, the Marktkirche in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, caught fire in the early hours of July 20, with flames spreading from the ground floor to the roof.
• The Goslar police and the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office have opened a criminal investigation into the blaze.
• Four teenagers were seen on a staircase outside the Technische Universität Clausthal-Zellerfeld at around 11:30 p.m., giving them a clear vantage point on the church before the fire started.
• Investigators believe firsthand accounts from these teenagers could provide key insights into how the blaze originated.
• Authorities have established a Goslar police hotline at 05321/3390 for anyone with information to assist in the inquiry.