Overview

• Friday’s blaze involved deliberate ignition of waste in an elevator shaft, marking the latest in a series of fires at the long-vacant complex.
• Several witnesses intervened to detain the 35-year-old woman found inside the building before police arrived.
• Chemnitz police have opened a formal arson probe centered on the detained woman’s actions during Friday’s fire.
• Investigators are analyzing forensic evidence and witness statements to confirm deliberate ignition and assess accomplice involvement.
• The abandoned industrial site has attracted trespassers and repeated fire outbreaks, fueling local safety concerns.