Germany: Planned refugee shelter targeted in suspected arson attack

A building that was planned to house refugees was set on fire in Flensburg, early on Friday morning, in what police say was a deliberate arson attack. Emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after the fire was started and fire-fighters quickly extinguished the blaze. Fire inspectors and police officers discovered a fire accelerant at the scene. The building was empty at the time of the attack and no one was injured. The influx of refugees into Germany in recent months has led to an increase in anti-refugee attacks across the country with several refugee shelters being targeted in arson attacks. In August German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the German state would use the "full force" of the law on those who use violence against refugees and migrants in the country.