Arson suspected after supermarket restroom fire forces mass evacuation
A fire broke out on Wednesday evening in a supermarket restroom at Dreieich's Nordpark shopping centre. Thick smoke forced the evacuation of up to 200 people as emergency crews responded to the scene. Authorities now suspect the blaze may have been started deliberately. The incident began around 19:00 when flames erupted in the customer toilet of a supermarket inside the complex. A caretaker quickly extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived. Investigators later found burned items in the drip tray of a hand sanitizer dispenser, which appeared to be the source of the blaze.
The shopping centre was fully evacuated due to heavy smoke, and the supermarket required extensive ventilation. The dispenser itself suffered damage, with estimated losses reaching around ā¬1,000.
Criminal police have launched an investigation, treating the fire as potentially intentional. Officers are now appealing for witnesses who may have seen suspicious activity near the restroom before the incident. The supermarket and shopping centre have since been cleared for reopening. Police continue to gather evidence, though no further details on the investigation's progress have been released. Anyone with information is urged to contact local authorities.
