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CRIME

Ludwigshafen tragedy began as a smouldering fire

German tabloid daily Bild has reported that the Ludwigshafen apartment fire that killed nine and injured 60 began as a smouldering fire under the building's floor.

Ludwigshafen tragedy began as a smouldering fire
Photo: dpa

According to Bild on Thursday, investigators say the deadly fire began smouldering in the building’s cellar, and they have ruled out wiring defects as a possible cause.

Since the tragic deaths on February 3, suspicions that arsonists set the fire in a hate crime against the building’s Turkish residents have abounded. Turkey sent its own experts to help German officials with the investigation.

The paper writes that experts say the smouldering fire began under the second and third steps of the building’s cellar. The source of the fire remains unclear, but authorities have ruled out technical defects in the building as a possible cause. Arson is also thought to be unlikely, the paper writes.

Authorities expect the results of psychological analysis for two children who say they saw a man start the fire. Their testimonies would be the only concrete evidence of arson, Bild writes.

BUSINESS

Elon Musk visits Tesla’s sabotage-hit German factory

Elon Musk travelled Wednesday to Tesla's factory near Berlin to lend his workers "support" after the plant was forced to halt production by a suspected arson attack on nearby power lines.

Elon Musk visits Tesla's sabotage-hit German factory

The Tesla CEO addressed thousands of employees on arrival at the site, accusing “eco-terrorists” of the sabotage as he defended his company’s green credentials.

With his son X AE A-XII in his arms, Musk said: “I am here to support you.”

The billionaire’s visit came a week after power lines supplying the electric carmaker’s only European plant were set on fire in an act of sabotage claimed by a far-left group called the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group).

READ ALSO: Far-left group claims ‘sabotage’ on Tesla’s German factory

Musk had said then that the attack was “extremely dumb”, while the company said it would cost it several hundred million euros.

A week on, the lights have come back on at the site, but Andre Thierig, who heads the site, said on LinkedIn that it would “take a bit of time” before production is back to full speed.

Industry experts have warned that the reputational impact caused by the sabotage on the region could be more severe than the losses suffered by Tesla.

Tesla’s German plant started production in 2022 following an arduous two-year approval and construction process dogged by administrative and legal obstacles.

Tesla wants to expand the site by 170 hectares and boost production up to one million vehicles annually to feed Europe’s growing demand for electric cars and take on rivals who are shifting away from combustion engine vehicles.

But the plans have annoyed local residents, who voted against the project in a non-binding ballot last month.

After the vote, Tesla said it might have to rethink the plans. Environmental activists opposed to the expansion of the factory have recently also set up a camp in a wooded area near the plant.

READ ALSO: Why is Tesla’s expansion near Berlin so controversial?

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