Residents shocked

Hate in the community center? Cars were the victim of flames

A total of five cars are believed to have been set on fire by a family clan in Floridsdorf.

(Bild: Heinz Stephan Tesarek)

Flame inferno Wednesday morning in a council block in Vienna-Floridsdorf! Residents were torn from their sleep and six cars were ablaze. But the fire was probably more than just a coincidence. An argument is said to have escalated there.

It was shortly after four o'clock in the morning when the residents in Kainachgasse were woken from their sleep. Four vehicles caught fire in front of the house in a parking lot. The cars burned down to the bodywork and the residents were shocked. The fire department and police were alerted.

Probably not a technical defect
As reported by the Vienna Fire Department, the inferno was quickly extinguished. No one was injured, but the damage to property is enormous. However, it is not believed to have been an accident in the municipal building ...

Traces were found on the damaged cars, which could have served as a fire accelerant. Further details are the subject of ongoing investigations.

Markus Dittrich, Polizeisprecher

"Investigations are currently underway on suspicion of arson, as traces were found on four cars that could have been used as fire accelerants. Further details are currently the subject of ongoing investigations," police spokesman Markus Dittrich announced on Wednesday morning. 

The vehicles burned down to the bodywork.

(Bild: Heinz Stephan Tesarek)

(Bild: Heinz Stephan Tesarek)

Debts could be the motive
A young Syrian man immediately had his suspicions. He thought an uncle might have torched the cars. He had seen someone possibly handling petrol in the parking lot. 

First an Audi A4 was on fire, then the fire spread to a Golf next to it. A total of four cars were damaged, two of which belong to the young Syrian's family.

Residents look shocked at the inferno in front of their house.

(Bild: Heinz Stephan Tesarek)

Arrest warrant issued for uncle
The motive could be a dispute over borrowed money. The uncle, who has been living in Austria for some time, is believed to have lent his brother and nephew money, which they apparently did not want to pay back. He is also said to have threatened to set the cars on fire. The nephew, who fled Syria with his father in 2016, works for a delivery service and was about to leave home.

The State Office of Criminal Investigation has taken over the investigation. It was announced on Wednesday evening that an arrest warrant has now been issued for the uncle. The man is under urgent suspicion of having committed the night-time arson.