Family responded in a timely manner
House of SPD local politician set on fire
February 20, 2024, 2:19 p.m
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The SPD local politician Michael Müller from Waltersheim in Thuringia is committed to fighting right-wing extremism in the town. That night, unknown people set his house on fire. A host family with a baby narrowly escapes disaster.
The criminal police are now investigating after a fire at the home of a local SPD politician in Waltershausen near Eisenach. The facade of the house and a car parked in front of it were deliberately set on fire, said a spokesman for the state police headquarters. The police have not yet given any information about the background.
According to his own statements, the house owner is committed to fighting right-wing extremism. The SPD man involved, Michael Müller, said: “I don’t know who it was. There were no specific threats against me, I have no enemies.” According to his own statements, Müller is deputy chairman of the SPD local association and the state party council. He is very committed in Waltershausen, including organizing a demonstration against right-wing extremism at the beginning of February.
The house is his home, but he also rents it out when he is on the road, Müller continued. On the night in question, a family with a baby was staying in the house. “Luckily they noticed the fire quickly. It’s a wooden house, a few minutes later it would definitely have been a full fire.” Now the facade and the host family’s car have been damaged. The police estimated the property damage at 13,000 euros. Müller assumed significantly more.
Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow wrote on Other state politicians were also shocked. The Vice President of the Bundestag, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, who comes from Thuringia, told the editorial network Germany: “This arson attack has endangered human lives.” Attacks like this are also attacks on democracy. “They are intended to intimidate and prevent people from participating in politics.” In the past few days, several attacks against constituency offices of the SPD and the Left in the country have also become known.