Arson in Traun: Three children set a car on fire in the underground car park!

Arson in Traun: Three children set a car on fire in the underground car park!

On May 19, 2025, around 5:30 p.m., a serious incident occurred in an underground car park in Traun, which put the police and fire department on alert. Two young brothers aged nine and ten persuaded a 12-year-old to set fire to an already damaged car. The vehicle then caught fire and was then completely destroyed. The emergency call was made at 5:51 p.m., whereupon the Traun and Hart fire departments and the Feuerstein professional fire department responded to the scene of the fire with a total of 45 emergency services.

The fire department was able to bring the fire under control at 6:08 p.m. and reported “fire out.” Due to the heavy smoke, the entire underground car park was cordoned off and the area was ventilated. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. However, investigations are currently underway to determine the exact extent of the damage and to clarify whether other vehicles or parts of the garage were also affected. The underground car park remains closed for security reasons.

Investigations and possible consequences

The investigation is now directed against the two brothers and the 12-year-old. In such cases, in Germany, according to the legal basis for arson, the intentional or negligent fire of a vehicle can result in criminal consequences. However, since the accused are children, it should be noted that children under the age of 14 are not of criminal responsibility. Children often unintentionally lead to dangerous situations out of curiosity or while playing, but these can be considered arson if they catch fire intentionally or through negligent reasons.

Current events are shedding light on the issue of arson among youth, a problem that federal crime statistics show is common when children and teens experiment with fire. Such incidents can lead to serious consequences, not only for the objects affected, but also for the people involved, who in most cases do not fully understand the relevance of their actions.

Public safety precautions

In view of the events, the police will now also check whether additional security measures are necessary in the underground car park. The goal is to prevent such incidents in the future. The authority will rely on statistical data and empirical analysis to determine how often and under what conditions children are involved in such situations.

Finally, it should be noted that in the case of arson by children and young people, it is important to provide information and prevention in order to minimize the potential danger. The circumstances of the May 19 incident make it clear that even seemingly harmless actions can cause serious harm.

For more information about arson and its legal implications, read the analysis from Brand-Feuer.de, which deals intensively with the topic.

Further details can be found in the press releases Cosmo as well as the police.