Stralsund police investigate string of basement fires, suspect arson

Police in the German city of Stralsund are investigating a concerning pattern of four basement fires that have occurred within a short period. Authorities confirmed they are examining a potential connection between the incidents, all of which are being treated as suspected arson.

The series of fires began on Sunday, with the latest incident occurring early Thursday morning. In one case, seven residents, including two children, had to be evacuated from a multi-family building in the northern part of the city while firefighters tackled a blaze. They were later able to return to their homes.

In the Grünhufe district, residents also faced temporary evacuation overnight on Wednesday due to a fire in a building's basement. One person sustained minor injuries and received hospital treatment for suspected smoke inhalation. Another basement fire in the same district on Wednesday afternoon led police to rule out technical defects, indicating that refuse had been deliberately set alight.

The first incident in the series occurred on Sunday afternoon in a basement in Grünhufe. Police are actively seeking witnesses for all four cases and are appealing for any information that could assist their investigation.