Serial Arsonist Sentenced to Nine Years for Burning Over 40 Vehicles

A 26-year-old man was convicted for a series of arson attacks in Mönchengladbach and Viersen, causing nearly €1 million in damages.

The arson spree, lasting from July 2022 to December 2023, involved setting over 40 vehicles on fire, including a transporter carrying seven new cars.
The total damages from the incidents were estimated at close to €1 million, with one incident alone causing €600,000 in losses.
The defendant initially confessed to the crimes during police questioning but later retracted most of his admissions during the trial, claiming his deceased accomplice was responsible for the majority of the fires.
The court found the defendant guilty of 22 counts of arson, rejecting his claim that his police confession was inadmissible due to alleged improper handling by officers.
The defense has announced plans to appeal the nine-year prison sentence, which fell short of the 11 years requested by the prosecution.