Suspect arrested after major fire in Salzburg slaughterhouse
After the major fire in the Salzburg slaughterhouse last weekend, fire experts assume that arson was the cause of the fire. The police arrested a suspect at the company premises on Tuesday. According to unconfirmed reports, it is said to be an employee of the company. According to the Alpenrind company, the extent of the damage caused by the fire has not yet been determined.
Deliberate arson
“We are assuming that the fire was deliberate,” said Salzburg fire expert Walter Kittl to several Salzburg media. After examining an electric forklift and other devices from the ruined fire, he ruled out a technical defect as the cause of the fire. An incendiary dog is also on duty in the hall, which is in danger of collapsing. However, the animal did not strike – it should therefore not have been used as an accelerant.
Kittl said that a lighter may have been thrown into the hall through an open roller door and ignited material stored there, such as cardboard boxes and plastic packaging. Assumed by the fire expert, the gate should obviously not have been open – but this meant that the fire was able to spread so quickly.