Arson? Three dead in Hamburg near clinic fire

After the fire in a Hamburg hospital with three deaths, a 72 -year -old patient was arrested on suspicion of arson. In the course of the witness interrogations, there were indications that the man could urgently be suspect, the police said on Sunday evening. He was arrested in the hospital and is to be brought before a judge on Monday. According to the information, it is said that whether the accused was in a mental state of emergency when the suspected act was committed.

Three patients aged 84, 85 and 87 were killed in the fire in the night of Sunday in the Marienkrankenhaus in the Hohenfelde district of Hamburg. According to the current knowledge of the fire brigade and the police, 34 people were also injured. One of them hovers in mortal danger.

The fire had broken out on the ground floor of the clinic in a room at the geriatric station, which specializes in the care of older patients. The fire location was confiscated. In the morning, fire investigators from the State Criminal Police Office were on site and secured traces. The fire site was cordoned off with red and white flutter tape.

Fire in the Hamburg clinic: three fatalities, two life -threatening injuries

The fire was deleted after about 20 minutes in the early Sunday morning. The rescue measures were also completed in the morning. Parts of the hospital had to be evacuated because of the fire. The injured patients were largely cared for in the clinic’s emergency room, two were brought to surrounding hospitals. According to the hospital, the other inpatient and outpatient care areas are not affected and continued to run regularly.

According to a dpa reporter on site, a room from the clinic apparently burned out completely. The flames on the facade spread from the room to the first floor of the building. The complete extent of property damage was initially unclear. The smoke caused by the fire on the ground floor was pulled on all four floors of the affected building, said the fire brigade spokesman. The adjacent buildings were also checked and patients housed there were examined.

People saved by windows from the Hamburg clinic

The fire brigade was on site with a large contingent of around 160 emergency services. The affected people were rescued via aerial ladders, portable ladders and via the corridors with so -called escape hoods. « There were several people on the windows, that is, patients who called for help, » said the fire brigade spokesman. The fire was deleted after about 20 minutes.

According to its own statements, the Catholic Marienkrankenhaus is one of the largest denominational hospitals in northern Germany. It has around 600 beds and treats around 93,000 patients every year. The clinic belongs to the non-profit Ansgar group, whose partner is the Archdiocese of Hamburg.

Clinic Managing Director: Want quick education

Clinic Managing Director Christoph Schmitz said in a message that the hospital was working closely with the responsible authorities to clarify the incident. In addition, all the necessary steps would be taken to further guarantee security in the clinic in the long term. The safety of the patients is a top priority, said Schmitz. « We have taken immediate measures to prevent another risk. »

Archbishop is affected – interior senator thanks emergency services

Hamburg’s interior senator Andy Grote (SPD) also spoke out for a quick and complete clarification of the cause of the fire. « Also to be able to protect better in the future, » Grote wrote in the short message service X. He thanked the emergency services who would have prevented worse things under the most difficult conditions. His thoughts are among the relatives of the victims and the injured. « I wish this a quick and complete recovery. »

Archbishop Stefan Heße explained: « I am deeply horrified and very sad. With my thoughts and my prayer I am with the dead and injured. » Heße thanked all the fire brigade and the emergency services for fast and professional use. The archbishop asked the communities to pray in the Sunday services for the dead, injured, relatives and employees. Heße visited the clinic in the afternoon.

(Bernhard Sprengel, dpa)