Arson in Altenmarkt: 40-year-old sets fire to his husband's house

According to investigators, the crime took place in Altenmarkt, a locality in Lower Austria. The quarrel between the two men is said to have been the trigger for the arson. The police also spoke of an intoxicated suspect.

The precise background of the conflict and the extent of the property damage were initially the subject of the ongoing investigation. The criminal police took over the inquiries at the crime scene in Altenmarkt.

In addition to the building, surrounding areas were also affected by the fire. The fire brigade managed to bring the fully developed blaze under control according to police reports; the extinguishing work continued.

Arrest and investigations

After his arrest, the accused was transferred to Korneuburg correctional facility. According to police, he is to be interrogated there in the coming days.

The object set on fire is the house of his husband in Altenmarkt. There were initially no indications of additional perpetrators or of a connection to other incidents in the region.

The police based their account on consistent statements from multiple sources. Accordingly, it involves a 40-year-old Latvian citizen who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of his arrest.

Reactions from the town

Residents in the town expressed dismay over the incident according to local reports. The municipality of Altenmarkt belongs to the district of Mistelbach in Lower Austria.

The investigations into the motive and course of events are ongoing. The public prosecutor's office will decide on further legal proceedings once the inquiries have been completed.

A similar case had previously occurred in the region, although the police see no direct connection to the current fire in Altenmarkt. The authorities emphasized that it is an isolated incident.

The fire brigade was deployed with several vehicles. According to the police, no one was injured; the suspect's husband also reportedly remained unharmed.