A Pakistani family in Germany, described as “well-integrated” by their town’s leftist mayor, has been arrested for burning down their own home for insurance money. The Christmas Day arson attack was initially blamed on “far-right” extremists.
Sources indicate the family painted slogans such as “Foreigners out” on the walls of their burnt house in an attempt to divert the investigation. German politicians, including members of the Greens and the Left party, initially rallied in support of the family and against “Nazis,” holding candlelit vigils and denouncing racism.
Authorities say the eight-hour blaze in Wächtersbach, near Frankfurt, caused €350,000 (~$380,000) in damages. Police focused their inquiries on the 47-year-old head of the family after discovering he had fresh burns on his arm despite claiming to be away from home at the time of the incident.
The populist, anti-mass migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has complained the political establishment used allegations that the “far right” was responsible for the fire as “a welcome opportunity to inflict hatred and agitation on our party and our voters,” calling it “a slap in the face.”
“Almost reflexively, the [Social Democrats], the Left, and the Greens classified this crime as politically motivated,” they added.
show less
