Berlin (dpa) – German authorities suspected arson in two blazes that damaged shelters planned for refugees in northern and south-western Germany on Sunday.
A multi-family house planned to house refugees was set on fire in the coastal city Rostock on Sunday, police said.
A 2-metre-square section of the building’s attic was burned, and state authorities are investigating a xenophobic connection to the incident.
It is unclear if the unoccupied building, located on a federal highway, can still be used to accomodate migrants, police said.
In Wertheim, a fire at a sports hall intended to house additional refugees meant the south-western German town will be unable to accept more migrant arrivals, a regional official said.
The blaze broke out late Saturday night in the building, which has the capacity to hold 400 people but is now in danger of collapse.
“No more refugees will come to Wertheim, as there is no additional emergency accommodation,” Hermann Schroeder from the Baden-Wuerttemberg state government said.
Wertheim is currently accommodating 600 migrants in another location.
Police suspect that the fire was started deliberately.
Two cars belonging to members of pro-refugee initiatives were set on fire in north-eastern Neuhardenberg on Saturday. Both vehicles were completely burned out, and a nearby van was also damaged.
No one was injured in the blaze, which police suspect was politically motivated, regional Interior Ministry spokesman Ingo Decker said on Sunday.
Brochures and stickers that read, “Refugees not welcome” were found on door’s and lanterns in the area.