Murder Trial of Daniel S. (39) Over Four Lethal Incidents at Grünewald
German Drug Addict Convicted of Arson and Murder in Solingen Apartment Building Fire
A German court has sentenced Daniel S., a 40-year-old unemployed drug addict, to life in prison for deliberately setting fire to an apartment building in Solingen, Germany, in March 2024. The fire resulted in the deaths of four members of a Bulgarian-Turkish family, including two children.
The tragedy occurred on Grünwalder Straße, where the family lived in the attic of the building. Residents had to jump out of windows to escape, resulting in severe injuries. Investigators found traces of an accelerant in the ruins of the staircase, leading them to suspect arson.
Daniel S. had previously lived as a tenant in the rear house of the burned-down building. After his tenancy was terminated, a dispute with the landlady ensued. The Public Prosecutor's Office believes that Daniel S. may have acted out of revenge due to this dispute.
In addition to four counts of murder, Daniel S. was found guilty of 21 counts of attempted murder, further arson of apartment buildings, and a brutal machete attack on a long-time friend. The indictment includes charges for two further attempted arson cases, one in November 2022 and another in February 2024.
Surveillance footage from the night of the fire led investigators to Daniel S. The motive for the attack appears to be a dispute over a drug deal. However, investigators also found evidence suggesting possible far-right extremist motives, including a racist poem in a garage he used and far-right content on a hard drive in his home. No clear links to extremist groups were established.
The victims were a Bulgarian couple (aged 28 and 29) and their two children, a three-year-old and a baby just a few months old. The attack caused severe injuries to the victim of the machete attack.
Daniel S. pleaded guilty to these charges and expressed remorse for the suffering he caused. He was ordered to pay financial compensation to the victims’ families and survivors, ranging from €2,000 to €20,000. The case sparked public debate in Germany about racism and far-right violence targeting immigrant communities.
The trial for the suspected arsonist, Daniel S., begins on January 21, 2025, in Landgericht Wuppertal. Another arson attack on a different building in February 2024 is attributed to Daniel S. The defendant also faces additional charges for a brutal attack in April 2024.
[1] News Source 1 [2] News Source 2
[1] Politics and general news outlets in Germany have been reporting extensively on the case of Daniel S., a convicted arsonist and murderer, following the arson in Solingen apartment building in March 2024. [2] War-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice sections also covered the story, given the numerous counts of arson, attempted murder, and the presence of possible far-right extremist motives in the case.
%20Over%20Four%20Lethal%20Incidents%20at%20Gr%C3%BCnewald){kind=link}