Fatal Graz fire

Judiciary confirms four new suspects

A young woman died in a fire at Café Stern on New Year's Eve.

(Bild: Sepp Pail)

As the "Krone" already reported, the devastating fire in a restaurant in the center of Graz on New Year's Eve could have legal repercussions for several people. The judiciary confirmed this on Saturday and spoke of four people currently accused. Negligent or intentional arson is in question.

Following the fatal fire at the Café Stern in Graz on New Year's Eve, in which a young woman died and 21 people were injured, some of them seriously, four officers have now also become the focus of the investigation. Specifically, the question is whether the café was inspected in terms of fire safety and whether compliance with regulations was also checked, confirmed Hansjörg Bacher, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office in Graz.

It is therefore possible that the tragedy could have been prevented, as the "Krone" already reported. During the investigations in the completely destroyed restaurant, some hair-raising fire protection deficiencies were discovered. Escape routes were blocked and fire extinguishers had run out.

Was fire protection checked?
An unknown person and the owner of the restaurant have been under investigation for some time, but now the role of two departments of Graz City Council has also been under investigation for several months. "The public prosecutor's office is investigating whether the regular fire safety inspections were carried out - this is about the first department. The investigation into the second authority is concerned with the accusation that no checks were carried out to ensure that the conditions imposed on the restaurant operator were actually implemented," says Bacher.

This is what the restaurant looked like after the fire.

(Bild: BF Graz)

(Bild: Jörg Schwaiger)

21-year-old died
The fire in the restaurant in Graz's Sporgasse broke out in the entrance area at around 3.30 am on New Year's Day and quickly spread to the furnishings and decorations. In addition to the fatality, a 21-year-old woman from the district of Mödling, 21 guests were injured, some of them very seriously. A technical cause of the fire was ruled out on New Year's Day. Negligent or deliberate arson is a possibility.