Fire – several injured
Police evacuate office after attack
Updated July 16, 2026 – 12:15 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Ambulance service (symbolic image): Several people contacted the clinics. (Source: IMAGO/Press photo Eibner/Marcel von Fern/imago)
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A man comes to the administrative office – then the situation escalates. Shocked employees are left behind.
The 35-year-old man died on Thursday morning. Finsterwalde Attack on employees of the district administration in Brandenburg. The police reported this to t-online after the RBB television company had previously reported. Accordingly, the man came to the employee’s office and verbally threatened her. Then he started a fire. The employee managed to get to safety. However, several employees were injured due to heavy smoke.
Four people were taken to clinics, some for suspected smoke inhalation and some for shock, a police spokesman said. A 35-year-old German was detained near the authorities.
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The entire building in Finsterwald has been evacuated
Police evacuated the entire administrative building and then sealed the entrances. A spokesman said a forensic examination is currently underway. As a result of the incident, between 20 and 30 people were injured and were taken care of, including by emergency pastors.
The background to the attack is still unclear. According to RBB, the attack took place on the premises of the youth affairs office; A police spokesman would neither confirm nor deny this.
In an initial statement, district officials spoke of a “serious incident.” “The district’s current focus is on caring for the affected employees,” the statement said. Operations at Finsterwald were completely suspended on Thursday. All agreed meetings will be canceled up to and including Monday. It is unclear when the location will reopen. The decision also depends on the damage caused to the building.
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Specifically, according to the administration, this is the building of a branch of the district administration of the Elbe-Elster region. Several offices are located here, including the Department of Traffic, the Department of Education, Youth, Social Affairs and Culture, the Department of Building Control, Environment and Monuments, and the Department of Health.