In Leipzig, arson attempts target shelter for Ukrainian refugees, kindergarten for their children

In Leipzig, Germany, the police are in search of perpetrators who tried to set on fire a kindergarten attended by children who fled the Russian war in Ukraine.

The incident took place on Saturday, August 27, after the kindergarten had already closed, Ukrinform reports with reference to Bild.

The attackers presumably poured a flammable liquid outside the entrance before lighting it up. The fire did not spread to the kindergarten premises, only damaging the door.

The refugee shelter, located just 700 meters from the kindergarten, was also attacked with incendiary devices. It happened on the evening of Friday, August 26.

Law enforcement officers admit that there is a connection between the two arson attempts.

"Due to the spatial proximity, we do not rule out a connection between these two attacks. We are currently studying eyewitness accounts, interviewing local residents, looking for CCTV footage, and checking social networks," said Tom Bernhardt, the press secretary for the State Department of the German Criminal Police.

As the agency previously reported, this year the German government has increased to EUR 6 million the financing of the HALO Trust Fund in Ukraine, engaged in humanitarian demining.