Planned refugee centre burned down in Sweden

Image
AFP Stockholm
Last Updated : Nov 07 2015 | 6:42 PM IST
A planned refugee shelter was burned down in Sweden today with police saying the fire may have been started deliberately, the latest in a string of suspected arson cases targeting a huge influx of migrants.
"Several buildings were burnt, including one which witnesses say has been destroyed completely," police said in a statement.
"For the moment the cause of the fire is not certain but as there are reasons to suspect it may have been started deliberately, a preliminary arson inquiry has been opened."
The planned shelter, on the outskirts of the town of Floda in southwest Sweden, had yet to welcome its first residents. There were no injuries and there have been no arrests.
The fire follows around a dozen confirmed or suspected cases of arson targeting migrants in Sweden this year.
Total arrivals of asylum-seekers to the Scandinavian country are expected to reach up to 1,90,000 in 2015, the most per capita of any European nation as the continent struggles with its worst migration crisis since World War II.
On Thursday the Swedish government warned that its capacity to host the refugees has reached saturation point and it cannot guarantee shelter for any new arrivals.
"We are in a tense situation and we are dependent on the opening of new lodgings. It is incredibly hard when they are destroyed by a fire," migration agency spokeswoman Johanna Uhr told the Goteborgs-Posten newspaper.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 07 2015 | 6:42 PM IST

Next Story