Crime in Bregenz

After arson attacks: Trial of young arsonists

The accused denied having started the fire in the container. He had also not been a lookout.

(Bild: Chantal Dorn, Krone KREATIV)

A container fire in Bregenz's Schulgasse at the beginning of April last year made headlines. Now a 15-year-old pupil was on trial in Feldkirch.

Unknown persons had set fire to the 1100 liter container at around 9 pm. The fire department had to be called out, a woman was taken to hospital with suspected smoke inhalation and property damage of around 15,000 euros was caused.

Accomplices incriminate the boy
After analyzing the video footage from a surveillance camera, three boys were identified. Two of them have already been convicted of other fires. Now the third in the group, a 15-year-old pupil, is facing charges: the accomplices already incriminated the boy beforehand by claiming that he had set fire to the paper container with a Bunsen burner.

However, the accused denied this. "We were first at the youth club and went into town at around 8pm to buy a kebab." Suddenly, one of his friends left. "Then he came back and said it would be good if we ran now. He had just set fire to a cardboard box in the bin," the accused reported.

Trial was adjourned
The 15-year-old admits that he had previously dumped pyrotechnics and two Bunsen burners from his school's physics room. "But I handed the items back to the principal before the fire." The pupil also denies having been a lookout. The trial was adjourned.