Suspected arsonists struck two industrial sites in Berlin overnight, igniting coordinated fires that destroyed 17 trucks and construction machines in the districts of Marzahn and Lichtenberg.
Police State Security has launched an investigation into the incidents, citing a potential political motive.
According to Bild, the fires broke out within minutes of each other, with the first emergency call coming at around 3 a.m. from the premises of the concrete manufacturer Cemex on Gehrenseestrasse, Marzahn. Eight large vehicles were engulfed in flames.
Shortly after, another call reported a second blaze at the Pyramidenring industrial area in Lichtenberg, where nine trucks, construction machines, and a conveyor belt were burning.
According to authorities, the proximity in time and location suggests a connection between the two fires. No injuries were reported.
The Berlin Fire Brigade deployed 50 firefighters to tackle the blazes, working for over two hours to bring the fires under control. The multiple sources of fire on both sites posed significant challenges, as did limited access to water. In Marzahn, long-distance hoses and tanker trucks were used to shuttle water from Alt-Hohenschönhausen to the scene.
Police confirmed that intentional arson is the likely cause of both fires. Due to the scale and coordinated nature of the attacks, the state security agency, which handles politically motivated crimes, has taken over the investigation. Witnesses are encouraged to come forward with any information.
The incidents bear similarities to a December 2023 arson attack on a concrete manufacturer in Berlin-Kreuzberg, where several cement silos, vehicles, and the main building were set ablaze.
The attack was later claimed online by individuals opposing the company’s involvement in the expansion of Berlin’s A100 motorway.
