According to his lawyer, the 41-year-old man who is said to have started two fires in apartment buildings in Essen on Saturday had no political motive. “Not a trace,” said lawyer Volker Schröder to the German Press Agency. “Pure family tragedy story. Fight against his wife for the children – and probably a mental disorder.” That was the situation that led to the crime. Schröder said he couldn’t yet explain why the man drove a delivery truck into two grocery stores after the two suspected arsons.
According to the police, the man with Syrian citizenship will be brought before the judge this Sunday. He is suspected of aggravated arson and attempted murder. The fires left 30 people injured, including two small children with life-threatening injuries.
