Fire at Kehlsteinhaus: Arrest and ongoing firefighting operations
Following a major fire at Kehlsteinhaus near Berchtesgaden, a suspect has been provisionally arrested. Firefighting operations continued into the morning.
Suspect arrested after fire at historic Kehlsteinhaus
As reported by bluewin.ch, a major fire broke out overnight into Saturday at the mountain restaurant Kehlsteinhaus on the Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden. A suspect has been provisionally arrested, as announced by Upper Bavarian police early in the morning. Whether the arrested person is in direct connection with the fire is still under investigation.
According to the Upper Bavarian South police headquarters, emergency responders first arrived on Friday evening at 21:52 and discovered a major fire. Around 07:00 in the morning, the restaurant was still burning, according to a police officer. The Traunstein criminal police have taken over the investigation into the cause of the fire.
Firefighting efforts were particularly challenging due to the building's exposed location. Access by fire engines was difficult, and the immediate surroundings as well as the building itself could only be entered with heavy respiratory protection equipment. According to police findings so far, there were no injuries, as apparently no one had been inside Kehlsteinhaus.
Kehlsteinhaus – also known as Eagle's Nest – sits at 1,834 metres above sea level and was scheduled to remain open this season until 8 November, according to the website of the Zweckverband Bergerlebnis Berchtesgaden. The building was completed in 1938 and was situated within a sealed-off area of the Nazi leadership. Since 1952 it has served as a mountain restaurant. The association notes: "Built 1937/38, what was then called the teahouse was intended during the Nazi era to serve as a place for political representation away from the public. In reality, the significance of Kehlsteinhaus remained limited." Adolf Hitler used the building mainly to receive diplomats and foreign guests; the Nazi entourage used it more frequently for relaxation and private celebrations. An exhibition in the building today documents this history.
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)