Overview

• An unknown assailant allegedly set a homeless encampment ablaze near Dortmund’s Reinoldikirche on Thursday evening, catching two sleeping men by surprise.
• Firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly, but the camp was destroyed and officers secured charred mattresses and clothing as evidence.
• The suspected perpetrator or perpetrators remain unidentified and are reported to be on the run as the Kriminalpolizei Dortmund leads the investigation.
• The two men escaped the flames at the last moment, and eyewitnesses described flames reaching several meters high.
• Authorities have not confirmed any connection to a September 23 case in Essen involving a 61-year-old homeless man, which drew condemnation from Green Party councilor Elke Zeeb.