Arsonist in Anhalt-Bitterfeld: Police catch two fire devils!

Arsonist in Anhalt-Bitterfeld: Police catch two fire devils!

Investigations into a series of arson attacks are in full swing in the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district and neighboring regions. The police and the Dessau-Roßlau public prosecutor's office have successfully established a connection between several fires since June 2025 and two arrested perpetrators. Loud Saxony-Anhalt The police reported that since June of this year, an increasing number of fires have been set in forests and fields as well as in empty buildings and commercial properties.

An investigative team was set up in August 2025 to get to the bottom of the matter. The intensive work led to the arrest of two men, 23 and 33 years old, from Bitterfeld-Wolfen and Zörbig on September 24th, who were caught red-handed. They are suspected of being responsible for a total of 19 arsons in the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district, the Saale district and the Northern Saxony district. Both men are now in custody because arrest warrants have been obtained against them.

Planned media attention?

The investigation revealed that the arsons were apparently deliberately set to gain media attention. The suspects' aim was to generate income through publications from the fires. “This shows a whole new level of crime,” said a police spokesman, commenting on the depths of the perpetrators’ motives. But that's not all: other groups of perpetrators are also in the investigators' sights. One example is three adolescents from Bitterfeld-Wolfen who are suspected of setting three fires on vacant properties in August and September 2025.

Another suspect is a 31-year-old man of no fixed address who is suspected of also having committed two arsons on August 4, 2025. A total of 24 fire incidents have already been solved in the period from June to September 2025. The total damage caused by these criminal activities is estimated to be in the mid to high six-figure range.

Intensive investigations and searches

The police executed eight search warrants and seized extensive evidence. The patterns of arson show that the attacks were often specifically planned to make extinguishing work more difficult and to endanger the fire brigade. “This is not just the fault of the perpetrators, but affects society as a whole,” said an investigator.

The investigation is currently ongoing and the police would like to expressly thank the institutions involved and the whistleblowers who helped clarify the crimes. “Many people in the region have had an important concern taken away from them by the quick reactions of the investigators,” summed up the police spokesman.

If you are looking for further information about current incidents and the investigation, you can find the official police announcements at Saxony-Anhalt read up. Be sure to keep an eye on this exciting development!