Arson suspected at asylum center near German border

Police in Winterswijk are investigating evidence suggesting arson may have caused a fire at a residential center for asylum seekers. Several people living at the Amstelstraat facility were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

No victims were hospitalized.

Firefighters rescued several people after the “medium-sized fire” was reported early at about 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, police said. The blaze swept through the first floor of the housing complex, but was quickly brought under control by firefighters.

A forensic investigation turned up trace evidence supporting the arson theory. Police will continue the investigation as a criminal act.

Authorities have asked anyone with knowledge of the incident, or with access to security camera footage, to contact them.

The Amstelstraat is a small street in the Gelderland town lying less than ten kilometers from the German border. The facility has room for some 400 asylum seekers, and is run with the help of 40 volunteers, the Dutch COA noted on its website.

#Winterswijk donderdag 16 mei om 03.30 uur is er brand gesticht in het AZC #Amstelstraat. Wij zijn dringend opzoek naar #getuigen die daar of in de omgeving iets gezien hebben. Bel 0900.8844 pic.twitter.com/P4sFVgqjeW

— Willem Saris (@polwwijkbuiten) May 17, 2019