photo: mercurynews
A recent housefire that killed eight Turkish national has raised some doubts on the cause of the raging inferno.
The Turkish government has requested that German authorities open an inquiry into a possible arson with the understanding that hate crime could be a factor in the deadly fire in light of the history of tensions between Germans and the Turkish community.
The fire started sometime late at night in the town of Backnang, on Sunday.
The German authorities on their part have reiterated that they have no information that would lead them to think that there is foul play involved.
Of the eight people that perished in the fire, seven were children.
The Turkish government however, is demanding that additional scrutiny be made of the event because in the past there have been several arson attacks from xenophobic citizens or neo-nazi groups.
What has prompted the Turkish authorities to request a swift and thorough investigation is also the fact that according to their officials, the German authorities have come to a conclusion too quickly in determining the cause of the fire and in excluding any foul play.
However, a malfunctioning wood stove seems to be the primary culprit. Electrical fire too, could be a cause as reports had previously been made by earlier occupants of the dwelling on the problematic electrical system.
However the German authorities are taking the fire investigation very seriously. Angela Merkel expressed her grief on the loss of life in the fire, and has profferred assistance to the local government. However, the Chancellor has also expressed her belief that once the investigation is concluded, that there will be no evidence of racial or other foul play.
Souce: Spiegel 3.12.13
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