Arson attack on weapons manufacturer B&T in Thun: police investigate
A fire broke out at weapons manufacturer B&T AG in Thun overnight into Thursday. The Bern cantonal police suspect arson and are appealing for witnesses.
Fire at B&T in Thun: cantonal police suspect arson
A fire broke out at weapons manufacturer Brügger & Thomet (B&T) in Thun overnight into Thursday. According to bernerzeitung.ch, the Bern cantonal police suspect arson and have launched an investigation.
The fire broke out on Tempelstrasse in the Thun-Allmendingen industrial area. The fire service was able to extinguish the flames completely by late afternoon. There were no injuries, but substantial damage was caused to the top two storeys of the enclosed building section.
Confession video from the left-wing scene
A video circulating on social media allegedly shows the attack. It depicts at least two people dressed in black moving through bushes at night, igniting an incendiary device and throwing it at a shelter containing wooden pallets. The video is being shared by a group from the left-wing scene.
According to the report, the attack targeted B&T because the company produces the rubber bullet launcher LBD 40. Its use by French police against demonstrators has been the subject of discussion for years, as the projectiles can cause serious injuries. As early as 2019, the Yellow Vests protest movement had called for a blockade of the company.
The video also contains screenshots from inside the weapons shop — shelves with weapons and ammunition that were apparently visible on Google Maps. This function is currently no longer available. The authenticity of the video has not been confirmed; the Bern cantonal police are examining this as part of the ongoing investigation, as a police spokeswoman confirmed on request.
Company suffers substantial damage
B&T is a manufacturer and dealer of weapons, silencers and accessories for authorities and private individuals and has its registered office in the affected building in Thun-Allmendingen. Company chief Karl Brügger told media outlets of a scene of devastation and criticised both the French police and media reporting in connection with the LBD 40.
The Bern cantonal police are appealing for witnesses and are conducting further investigations into the exact cause of the fire and the precise amount of damage.
Source: Tages-Anzeiger