Deadly fire in Graz – Justice confirms four new suspects

After the fatal fire at Café Stern in Graz on New Year’s Eve, which killed a young woman and injured 21 people, some seriously, four officers have now become the focus of the investigation. In concrete terms, the question is whether the restaurant has been checked for fire protection and whether the requirements have also been checked, confirms Hansjörg Bacher, spokesperson for the Graz Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The tragedy could possibly have been prevented, as the “Krone” already reported. During the investigations into the completely destroyed guest room, some chilling fire protection deficiencies were discovered. Escape routes were blocked and fire extinguishers had expired.

Has fire protection been checked?
An investigation into an unknown person and the restaurant owner has been ongoing for some time, but the role of two departments of the Graz magistrate has also been investigated for several months. “The Public Prosecution Service is investigating whether regular fire safety inspections have been carried out – this concerns the first instance. The investigation into the second instance concerns the accusation that no checks were made to determine whether the requirements imposed on the local operator were actually implemented,” said Bacher.

21 year old died
The fire in the restaurant on Sporgasse in Graz broke out at the entrance on New Year’s Day around 3:30 a.m. and quickly spread to the furnishings and decoration. In addition to the fatal victim, a 21-year-old woman from the Mödling district, 21 guests were injured, some of them very seriously. A technical cause of the fire was ruled out on New Year’s Day. Negligent or intentional arson is possible.