Newly-completed asylum quarters set on fire in Austria

Arsonists have set fire to unoccupied asylum quarters in Altenfelden in the northwestern Austrian state of Upper Austria overnight on Wednesday, local authorities have confirmed.

The cause of the fire in the newly-completed quarters, that were to be occupied by about 48 asylum seekers in two weeks, was initially unknown.

It first came to the attention of fire authorities at just prior to 2 a.m. local time Wednesday. By the afternoon investigators had discovered the fire had been deliberately lit at two places on the outer wall of the wooden building.

Nine fire crew had taken until later in the morning to put out the blaze, with no injuries reported. The cost of the extensive damage was estimated at about 300,000 euros (335,000 U.S. dollars).

The State Office of Criminal Investigations and the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution are now involved in the case. Authorities said they are not ruling out that extremists were behind the attack.

Walter Aichinger, President for the Red Cross in Upper Austria by whom the quarters were operated, said in a press release in response to the arson attack that he was "shocked," but that his organization would hold to its task of helping persons in need.

In addition he said he would be meeting with regional authorities in the coming days to discuss rebuilding the asylum home.

New living quarters for the asylum seekers who were due to move in to the building are also yet to be found. Endit