Accommodation for refugees from Ukraine in the municipality of Groß Strömkendorf in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was almost completely destroyed during the night by a fire. "As things stand, all 14 residents were able to leave the facility unharmed. Nothing happened to the three employees either," said a spokesman for the Northwest Mecklenburg district.

According to the police, the fire is suspected to be arson. On the day of the fire, the police had visited the accommodation - a hotel - because of a swastika graffiti on the entrance sign, as district administrator Tino Schomann announced.

"From my many years of experience as a firefighter, I am currently assuming that the fire was started intentionally," explained Schomann. However, it was initially unclear how the fire started. The residents were moved to another facility immediately after the fire, said the spokesman for the district. The fire brigade was supposed to last until the early hours of the morning. Almost 120 emergency services and around 20 emergency vehicles were on site.

When the fire brigade arrived, employees of the facility and some passers-by were already trying to fight the fire with fire extinguishers. The entire thatched roof burned. "The roof just collapsed before my eyes. Only the outer walls are still standing," said the district spokesman. Photos published in the media showed meter-high flames and heavy smoke. In the meantime, there was great fear that the fire would spread to neighboring buildings. But this could be prevented.